Andrew

With Andrew's birthday and father's day being in the recent past I've been thinking a lot about the man.  Ok, I think about him all the time.  When I wake up.  When I shower.  When I brush my teeth.  When I brush his children's hair each morning.  But my thoughts lately have turned from, "When will he be home?" "What does he want for dinner?" and any of the many other thoughts that have become routine.

Recently I was witness to a conversation about dating lengths before engagements.  A woman, who shall remain nameless, mentioned that if she would have dated her husband longer she wouldn't have married him.  As she said this, in front of their child no less, I just pray that my face did not show the thoughts that started running through my mind.  I couldn't help but pity her and her husband for what they both felt had been a mistake.  And I just plain could not believe it!  Ok, I'm not naive.  I am well aware that for any of thousands of reasons people find themselves marrying the wrong person.  Settling, not knowing the person well enough, whatever.  It happens.  I know it.  Still, it made me feel incredibly sad for this couple.  And extremely relieved for me.

I love Andrew.  And best of all, I am incredibly happy!  We may not have dated long enough according to worldly opinions.  I was told many, many times at a family reunion that I was far too young to get married (20 years old) and some family even went so far as to say they were going to kidnap me and keep me from making this huge mistake.  Seriously?  Contrary to some beliefs, I am not a brainwashed mormon.  I was genuinely in love, genuinely happy, and genuinely confidant that I was about to make the best decision of my life.
I remember walking around my parents home on my last morning as an unmarried woman.  I was going about getting ready without a worry in the world.  Little brother Evan walked past and said, "You're getting married today!  Why aren't you freaking out?"  Naturally I responded, "Why would I be nervous about marrying the right guy?"  Although, I'll be honest, I was a little surprised that I wasn't a little nervous.  Since then, I have spoken with other friends who have also married the right guy and they experienced similar emotions.  As one of my Shannons puts it, it's an "eerily calm" that takes over.  Not saying that if you were nervous on your wedding day you married the wrong guy.  I was just surprised at myself and thrilled that I wasn't the only one.
I won't say our marriage is perfect.  But we're perfect for each other.  We have become quite good on the emotional teeter-totter and balance out.  While I'm crazy, he's level headed.  While he's stressed and silent I will talk a situation to death until a solution is found.  We have progressed from finishing sentences to stealing thoughts.  We may not have a lot in common but that just seems to work for us.  Opposites attract and all that.
I just love that man of mine.  I firmly believe that I get these experiences on occasion to remind me of the reasons our marriage rocks.  I love a quote from President Monson regarding love., "Choose your love.  Love your choice."  And I do.  Sometimes, when my choice leaves his stinky socks on the living room floor and his late-night snack dishes on the end table I have to remind myself of this (ok, my love doesn't falter that easily but I'm being funny.)  As our seven (my lucky number) year anniversary comes up I am sure I will feel the need to overload you with more mushiness.  Because I LOVE this guy!