A Happy Sixteen Years

Today Mark and I celebrate our 16th Wedding Anniversary! When it comes to my marriage I have always felt very blessed. Looking back on the last 16 years there are lots of happy memories and some sad ones. I'm so thankful that I had Mark with me to share these experiences. There are so many things that I love about Mark. Here are a few, in no particular order. Mark is very creative and artistic. He is very calm, and even tempered. I can't say the same about myself. But he has a calming effect on me that I find very comforting. He very, very seldom raises his voice. He is a really cute Dad. He knows just how to be a terrific father. Having Mark around helps me to have courage. One example, when Matthew was born we found out he was going to arrive by emergency c-section. Now I know women have babies this way every day. But those women are not me. They must be stronger and braver. Made of different stuff. I was NOT happy about this tid-bit of information. I was seriously scared to death. They wheeled me back to the operating room without Mark. I wanted to die. At the very least be put to sleep. While they were prepping me for surgery I seriously kept saying "Please, just put me to sleep. I DO NOT want to be awake for this. I'll just see my baby when I wake up." And the nurses and doctor would say, "Oh no, you don't want to miss this. You'll be fine." Well, then they finally let Mark into the room. I have never been so glad to see anybody in my whole entire life. He was the most comforting sight I've ever seen. And he looked so handsome in those scrubs! I was perfectly fine after that. He held my hand and I wasn't scared anymore. And I am glad I was awake to see Matthew come into the world. Another thing I love about Mark is his sense of humor. This guy of mine is pretty funny and he makes me laugh. Sometimes even when I don't feel like it. He finds the humor in everything. Mark has a green thumb, which is good, because I don't. He can fix or build just about anything. I mean it's really quite amazing. He is very kind. He is always willing to help someone who might need it. Mark is very patient. One of the sad things that we went through these last 16 years was when we lost three of our babies. This was an especially difficult time for me. I cried a lot. And Mark was so tender with me and very patient in allowing me the time and means I needed to work through my grief. I got to a good place about the loss of those babies and I could not have done it without his tenderness and compassion. He has an enthusiasm for life that is really quite contagious. Oh how I love this guy of mine!!! One last thought. I know that Mark has seen me at my very best, BUT he has also seen me at my very worst. And still, even with all the not so good stuff, he continues to love me. He takes the good and the bad. The chaff and the grain, so to speak. Keeps what's worth keeping, and then with a breath of kindness, he blows the rest away. I find that humbling and comforting. I am so thankful, and joyful, for the knowledge that we are going to be together forever. I truly love you Mark. More and more everyday. Happy Anniversary!