Hard work pays off

It's not easy having a healthy, successful marriage that exists for the sole reason of loving and serving the other person despite your own wants and desires. I'm 5 years in and I know I'm pretty lousy at it. Luckily, I'm married to someone who's way forgiving and gracious. (Don't tell him I said this - he'll only get a big head.)

There are a few things I've read in books past that will stay in my "great point" memory bank forever. Once in a book, this man explained why so many marriages fail today. He said that in his years of family counseling he has seen time and time again that people have a false view and understanding of love. Love is the way someone makes you feel, people will explain. And, then when those feelings lessen or just straight up die, well then you're done....right? Love, he explains, is an action. When you step into marriage with someone you are making the decision to love that person for the rest of your lives. Not to feel a certain way - feelings are way too fleeting - but, instead to choose every day to put yourself aside for the sake of loving the other. Easier said than done, right?

That means that when Corey is working 80+ hours a week and acting like a diva when he's at home and I think to myself..."if we were only dating, I would definitely break up with him right now"...I am supposed to make the decision then and there to love him. Actively. Wholeheartedly. Despite the love (or lack thereof) I'm feeling at the moment.

So, I tell you that whole story because that's what I was thinking about when I was shooting and editing this next series of pictures. Tim & Beth wanted pictures of them together (without the kiddos) to document their success in being married for almost 23 years now. I respected the way they interacted with each other - holding hands, laughing, and joking about how they couldn't see each other when they were hugging b/c of their farsightedness. ;)

I look forward to being just where you are in 18 years. Being in a place where I, too, can look back and celebrate the love we've actively shared with one another, all the while whole-heartedly believing that hard work clearly pays off.

(p.s. for whatever reason - more so than normal - Blogger is really skewing the colors in these pics. Like the first one - on my computer it's bright and cheery, on blogger it's dull and outside of the people in it, it kind of puts me to sleep. Boo Blogger (except you're free so I still love you.))

Beth's a photographer, too and thought it'd be fun to take pics of me, too. I didn't like that idea one bit so we had a draw. I shot first. She's dead.