10 Reasons Why I Love My Man and Marriage

27 Years of Marriage this Week

Teal blue bridesmaid dresses, yellow gladiolas, and LOTS of candles…the color scheme and decor of our wedding. Dad gave me $500 to plan the wedding of my dreams. I used $25 of it to buy a dress from a girl whose wedding had been canceled.

Our time and attention are all wrapped in marriages and such this week. Our sweet daughter Hannah is getting married this Saturday. I also want to give some time and attention to the man with which I have spent the past 27 years.

I knew he was the man for me after our second date. This July 31st will be our 27th anniversary. Through the years, I have accumulated quite a list of things that make me love him and our marriage more each year. Here is a little sampling.

1. When he walks in the door after work, he hollers, “Honey, I’m home!” Kind of like Ricky Ricardo did with Lucy :).

2. In the summertime, he literally rides the lawn mower or works in the yard until dark or beyond. He says it is his therapy.

3. Whenever we walk through a parking lot, he stands between me and the cars and hums “Hail to the Chief”, like he is the secret service and I am someone so important I require protection.

4. He wears a suit every Sunday morning and looks mighty fine in it. His daddy was a minister for over 50 years, so this habit is ingrained in him.

5. He is a master vacation planner. We call him Mr. Excel Spreadsheet because he puts all of the details in excel.

6. Yes, even when we are mad at each other, he holds my hand when we bless our meals.

7. He is and always has been a generous giver to God. Even when times were financially hard, he was faithful to tithe our money and, many times,  go beyond in obedience.

8. He has empowered and lifted me in our marriage. At least two times, I have made major career changes. He has always blessed me and “just wants me to be happy”.

9. He loves God more than me and I am good with that!

10. He adores my no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies (or, as he calls them, goat drop cookies) and always wants to clean out the pan!

The Bible teaches us to “leave and cleave” in marriage in Genesis 2:24. Cleave literally means to be glued to your spouse (dabaq in Hebrew).  Have there been times in 27 years we have wanted to come UNGLUED?  Yes, but our commitment to each other, and more importantly, the commitment we made before God keeps us bonded.