This year has been my most favorite year of our marriage. So much rebuilding and healing has taken place this past year. We had unknown trials ahead as does any newly wed couple. Ours became dysfunctional and began colliding more each day. In our innocence we were in survival mode. The collision became more painful as our family grew. Again in our innocence we didn’t understand why we felt like we were struggling to connect, to communicate, work together, and understand one another. I also had to come to terms with how much we as individuals changed in the the past years and will change as a couple. The Peter I married seven years ago isn’t going to stay the same. Because there needs to be room for growth. With trauma counseling for the both of us these past few years we began to understand, become more sympathetic toward one another, communicate, use teamwork, and encourage. But this meant visiting wounds we didn’t know about or didn’t know how to face. This meant being patient with one another’s pace in our growth.

Some say that seven years is the year couples are sick of one another. For us it feels like the beginning.

Happy 7 years!

While most people think of romance when they think of Valentine’s Day, we celebrate love.
Our boys are little now but we want to teach them early the fun they can have with it in all seasons of their lives. I have always loved Valentine’s Day. Even in my single season. My focus was not on the hall mark advertisement it was on the word love. Each year they make something special for Grandparents and for me and Peter to hang up. I love decorating the house with their little heart foot prints too.

As they grow older we want to teach them different ways to show people they care about how they love them. This is where teaching love languages begins: acts of service, words of encouragement, physical affection, and time. Love is taught year around and celebrated and reflected on more in our home as we approach Valentines day.

Five years married today I look back and see a lot of tears. 

Tears of pain, hurt, weariness, fear, confusion, anger, and relief. Yet, in the midst of my memories I also see growth. One thing I’ve been learning is we will be OK. Marriage is hard. Sharing life together in selflessness with iron sharpen iron. It’s grieving together, laughing together, encouraging one another, learning more about one another and Christ, and growing together. 

I see beauty in the growing pains.

I see our home, our bunnies, our beautiful baby boys and our faith. 

As I look ahead and I am eager for the next  to come. The new emotions that we will work through as we face new growing pains. 

 

 

My husband and I have one of these and we love it! 

What I love about these is you can make them how ever you want!

You don’t have to use a mason jar like us. A simple list might just do the trick.

Dates:

Romantic:

*Bed and breakfast *go to a hotel *hiking *go to a flower nursery and buy some *he makes dinner while she gets ready  *he surprises her with a new dress and a note that says “be ready by…” *cute love notes everywhere before spouse comes home 

Out side: *pic nic *walks  *beach day *horse back riding *fair *zoo

Active: 

*play a two player sport together(tennis, bad mitten, throw a frisbee, ect.)  *fishing *swing dancing   *bowling  *wall climbing  *canoeing  *skiing *running   *hiking *walks *sign up for a run *ice skating *larping 

Indoor: 

*baking *cooking *gaming *build something *get artsy (paint, color, draw ect.)  *Do the holiday things (carve pumpkins, gingerbread houses, decorate, bake, dress up, ect.) *movie *restaurant  *board games  *coffee date *Indoor picnic *arcade 

Adventure:  

*double date *Go see a play *glass blowing *go to an art gallery or a museum *Monster truck show *go to a different restaurant for a three course meal 

Sharing:  

*read something together  *share your favorite Bible verse/story and why? *share what Bible character you think you are most like and why? *Take quizzes online to get to know each other 

 

The list could go on…..what are some other great ideas for a date?

 

When I started writing and thinking about what to post for our big year anniversary this writing started off very gloomy, but then…

I recalled our vows.

I recalled the day

I recalled our Purpose .

As I was looking through my pictures trying to figure out what  to post for our big one year anniversary I new I couldn’t come up with a bright and happy one it wouldn’t of been the right fit.

When I look at this picture I see our year unfold. 

It was exactly what you see when you look a little deeper with me.

It was grey. 

It was Peter loving me unconditionally.

It was me wondering why and yet still leaning in wanting to trust him but didn’t know how.

It was me not always wanting to make eye contact.

It was Peter always seeing me as beautiful even if I didn’t act that way. 

   Like I have mentioned in a few other writings before our first year was not a honeymoon it was a spiritual battle of thorns. Through and through we know that God is bigger and he has only made us stronger in the midst of it all.  We learned so much together and I am so thankful to have a husband who is completely in love with Lord. 

Peters Vows:

Mihaela, meeting you 3 years ago I had no idea I would be standing here today getting married to you. You have been involved in my life these last three years always around to talk to and to listen too. Our friendship slowly grew and grew encouraging each other in our walk with Christ.

I stand before you today Mihaela to make my vows to you. I vow to hold your hand in sickness and in health. I vow to always encourage and support your walk with Christ. I vow to be your best friend and walk through life together. I vow to give myself up for you, to die to myself daily.

My Vows:

Peter even before we started dating you were always encouraging me in my walk with Christ through prayer. Because of you I have learned to trust again. I love you. Years I have prayed for you, and God has blessed me more than I ever imagined. Now and forever I promise to hold your hand in the battle field of life. I promise to be an encourager, your helper, your lover, your prayer warrior, and your companion. I promise to laugh, cry, and dream with you. I promise to die to myself every day for you. To love you through all our seasons.

(Here I took off my purity ring and continued the vows. Ring off.)

The ring I  am wearing is in the shape of a heart. This is symbolizing through being restored in Christ is my purity to you. My new ring will symbolize a promise to be forever yours with commitment I am making before God and man today.