Five years

Five years ago today I got married, for the third time.

I figured "3rd time's the charm" or "3 strikes and y'ur out". It was a small wedding, 15 people in attendance, 6 of them being my husband and our 4 children. I wore black and red. He wore black khakis, a white button down shirt and a black blazer. My daugher and his son stood up for us (they were 12 and 11 years old). As I recall, there were face splitting grins all around as we said "I do."

The odds were stacked against us. My third marriage, his first marriage, 4 children to raise born of 4 different sets of parents, a small house and a small income. We committed to each other, committed to raising our 4 children together, committed to building a real life.

I won't lie, it hasn't been easy, there have been nights we've gone to bed royally pissed off at each other. There have been days when there were no words to be spoken - only quiet breathing and searching looks and palms turned up to the heavens.

There have also been days of absolute elation, peaceful calm and immense gratitude. We have built a family, grown gardens, cooked together and laughed together. He has taught me to be more gracious and accepting. I have taught him the joy of following things through to the end, and shared my love of reading with him.

We're best friends. We are each other's soft place to fall. He wakes me up when he leaves for work to tell me he loves me. I always say "I love you, too, and drive safe." I have never been happier.