The Seven Year Itch

Vows...I gave them to a guy named Jason 7 years ago today.  We have all heard them and a lot of us have said them to someone along the way.  But to actually live them out, can we say that we do that?

...to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, in richer, in poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy law, in the presence of God I make this vow...

I can say that in the part sever years, Jason and I have had the opportunity to see each other live out these vows with and without success.  We have experienced a ton of significant stuff together over the past seven years.  We were talking the other night about everything that has happened and here's a list of some of it:

We have moved twice.

Jason graduated medical school.

I started and graduated from PT school.

Jason started and finished residency.

We both started "real" jobs.

My grandmother died.

Both of his grandparents died.

I was diagnosed with and treated for cancer.

My parents were divorced.

I ran a marathon.

Family sicknesses.

Wow.  It seems unreal that all of that stressful stuff has happened in the past 7 years.  Jason has made the tough stuff tolerable.  He makes the stressful stuff worth it.  

I don't know how I really feel about writing about my relationship.  I feel that our love is a pretty private thing, but I do what to pay him respect and tell you just who he is to me!

Let's face it, Jason has had to deal with a lot being married to me.  I realize that and I take full responsibility for who I am.  I talk a lot, worry a lot, and whine a lot.  I come with drama, baggage, and bad habits.  I am a push over and rarely speak up for myself.  I am a horrible cook.  I am ignorant when it comes to finances.  But he loves me.  I know that people would say that I'm too hard on myself, but I'm being honest...and Jason would probably agree to most of this.  The beautiful thing is, Jason compliments most of these things.  He is quiet and reserved.  (He worries just like me!)  He dislikes and avoids drama.  He is an exceptional cook and keeps awesome track of our finances (I bet you don't have a pie chart depicting your monthly spending?!?!?). God knows exactly what we need!  As much as we are a mess, we are a complimenting mess.  We fill in each others missing pieces.  

Jason walked by my side through my cancer diagnosis without faltering.  At 31 years old, he spent hours with me at the doctor, sitting at chemo champ, shaving my head, taking trips to Walgreens, caring for my fatigue and nausea, and flushing out a PICC line on a daily basis.  He has seen me bald, seen with with serious dark circles under my eyes, and asleep with my mouth open at chemo (probably drooling).  I don't what more to say other than thank you.  This love is not fleeting.  He loved me with the love of God, whose love is unconditional.  

I am not the woman I was when he married me.  I'm not as young or as exciting or mysterious.  He knows all my quirky attributes and all my bad habits.  He truly knows me now and I think he's okay with all of the bad that comes with all the good.  I know that's how I feel about him.  I have learned so much more about him over the past 7 years that I would have loved then if I'd had known.  For instance, he fixes things.  If something breaks or goes wrong, he will research it or work on it until it is fixed.  He does not stop until it works as good, if not better, than it did before.  This comes in handy with a marriage.  Another one...he takes care of his possessions.  I have never seen anyone so careful with anything that he owns.  His car, his phone, his fishing stuff, his sunglasses (just to name a few) are always in immaculate condition.  Again, comes in handy in a marriage.  Lastly, he is honest.  I'm from the South and appreciate a little candy coating but Jason is honest.  I am thankful for that.  He keeps me grounded and keeps our marriage real.

I can't wait to see where our years take us!  And I'm so thankful he's mine.  I am grateful that God found enough favor on me to send me such a cool partner.  I love him dearly and pray that i can be half of what he is to me!  Happy anniversary Jason French (or Grinch)!  

Here's some pictures...the first one is on Father's Day weekend...then in October 2012....our honeymoon...wedding...proposal night...and the 2nd time we met!