nine.

mr maxey & i celebrated nine years married yesterday. NINE. in the days leading up to our anniversary i’ve spent a lot of time thinking and reflecting about us. about our story, who we are (as individuals and as mr & mrs), how we’ve grown and changed over the years, and how, in other areas, we are exactly the same as we were on that fall day in 2003.

and i’ve come to the conclusion that our life is comprised of a million little nothings … that for us, mean everything. 

it’s a lot of thank you’s. it’s blankets draped over sleeping bodies who fall asleep on the couch. it’s ‘can i get you something?’ when one of us is walking to the kitchen. it’s “go for it!” when one of us has an exciting (or even not so exciting) opportunity. it’s family naps, and i miss you and how are you? texts during the day. it’s that little look of gratitude exchanged when one of the chicklets does something so adorable. it’s the last slice of pizza, that we each want the other to enjoy … you take it. no, you! 

we’re certainly not perfect. oh, no, far from it. we fight messy … our arguments are often packaged in hurtful words that linger for days. we don’t spend nearly enough time focusing on each other, looking in one another’s eyes and really talking. we’re too distracted by life and laptops and iphones. we’re exhausted with the day-to-day, and sometimes an entire week will go by without a meaningful conversation. our interests are ohsodifferent.

but we forgive. and we support. we lift up, encourage, and believe in each other. and we laugh. oh, how we laugh.

in most things in life, i tend to go big. pray big, dream big, wish big. but as far as husbands go, my advice to the chicklets will be different. think small, i will tell them. think of the small, meaningless little nothing details that will fill your day-to-day. THIS is what will keep you smiling and invested and feeling loved and valued. the big stuff, those grandiose gestures are fine … but they don’t last. the white horse and knight don’t exist – well, they might in the beginning, but soon the shine of that suit of armor will fade and tarnish, and the horse will sh** on your favorite rug. and that’s when those little nothings are going to become so important. the cup of coffee brought to you in bed, tying your shoelaces when you’re pregnant and can’t bend over anymore, giving you the last slice of pizza. saying thank you, and yes, and go for it, and you deserve it.  it’s nothing … yet everything.

husband, you are the guacamole to my chips. i adore you, and appreciate you, and am so incredibly grateful that you asked. i will and i do …