Happy Fall, Mommas ! I love this time of year and everything it includes, from football season, to an excuse to make (and eat) more soup, an occasional cozying up by our fireplace, and just the general “slow down” that this season brings. I also enjoy this time of year because it’s my husband’s birthday !
I love celebrating this man. I love the meaning that he brings to my life, the opportunities that he provides, and just the time that I’m able to spend making memories with he and our kids. What I want to share today, though, that may be a surprise for some and not at all for others, is that it wasn’t always this way.
Jason and I met at the ripe, young age of 15. (Yikes !) We met at ‘A’ Day at Noah’s Ark Waterpark in The Wisconsin Dells, WI. So really quickly, what this means is that if you had an ‘A’ on your report card, you had a free admission that day. (Jason now tells the story that he was looking for his future “smart wife”.)
So, there we were, with our separate group of friends, all young and innocent, when his group of friends walked up to mine and sparked up a conversation. The conversation ended by me giving my phone number away -seriously, something I never would have normally done. Love is blind (and sometimes dumb, ya’ll). In all actuality, I seriously think God’s spirit was with me that day and was like, “Psst, Brittney, it’s all good, girl. Don’t use your brain for a hot minute.” “Ok, God ! No problemo!”
And.... the rest is history ! Although, not really. At all. Jason and I had, probably, one of the most unhealthy relationships known to man. We “broke up” every other month; had no clue what we wanted from each other, and if we did, we didn’t know how to effectively communicate it; and ended up saying and doing some pretty nasty things to hurt each other along the way. This isn’t something that I’m proud of, but have no doubt that it’s brought us to where we are today. We have a really strong foundation, you guys; we practically grew up with each other, and by doing just about everything wrong, we knew what made the other person angry, hurt, sad, and wanting to run the other direction !
I don’t know how many times I tried to do just that. How many times I said, “I’m sooo done. I’m not doing this anymore. I don’t deserve this.”. Blah, blah, blah - over and over again. Something, and now because of my strengthened faith, I believe it was someone that kept pulling me back.
Fast forward many years later - How did we get to being married for almost five years and two kids later ?
Jason and I were just having this conversation the other day. I told him, “If I’m being honest, I truly believe that God chose you for me.” Because, so many times, I didn’t feel that I, myself, was choosing him.
I love that my creator knew what I needed; and I’m so glad that I trusted Him. I couldn’t predict or see my future, be He could, and, Oh My Goodness, am I so grateful for that. I’m so blessed to call this man my husband. I’m so blessed to have him to make me laugh and share memories with. I’m so blessed that my precious babies call him “daddy”.
If you would have told me at the age of 16, that my current boyfriend is the man that I was going to marry, I would have thought you bumped your head.
Through growth and maturity, but mostly through God, we have built a life that I am so proud of and blessed to live.
Now, that’s not to say that things are always perfect; our relationship is far from it. We argue and disagree just like the best of ‘em. The only difference.. he’s always proven to be worth fighting for. I will continue to lean on God in our weak moments, and celebrate Him during our best moments. I will always trust that just as He knew us when we were 16, He continues to know us now.
(Mommas, not to put a damper on the mood, but I hope this doesn’t come across as an excuse to stay in an unhealthy relationship with hope and trust that it will turn around. There are boundaries and lines that should never be crossed in any domestic relationship. If you’re experiencing anything of the sort, please know, I’m praying for you, always. And, as always, I, as well as your Heavenly Father are here, no matter what.)
Happy Birthday, Babe ! Thanks for allowing me to continue to be beside you year after year. May you always feel loved, appreciated, and celebrated (even when it’s not your birthday).
Until next time...
Your,
(Celebratory) Christian Momma