On the 12th Day of December...

It's Frrriiidddaaayyy!!  It's kinda sad I get this excited over the last day of work, but man I am in work overload.  My slow December begins this weekend!  On a mushy and personal note, today marks the fifth year of marriage for Cade and I.  Which is kind of surreal...  We've actually been "together" since I was in the 10th grade...kind of a Cory and Topainga-ish story.  Any Boy Meets World lovers out there?;)  

It has been a crazy roller coaster full of changes as we have matured, gotten older, and experienced different phases of life together (school, work, baby, etc.), but here we are!  I can honestly say that if it wasn't for Cade, I would have a part of me missing that would have made it almost impossible to have accomplished all that has been done within the past 5 years.  Graduate school, Cam, our home, and all of the other blessings the Lord has entrusted to us.  Without him, it wouldn't exist.  He is the most selfless, genuine, caring person I have ever met (though he may not seem like it at times,  with his ruthless humor-- (it's a front, he is a real teddy bear).  Indulge my throwback picture spree...

In honor of our 5 years, I am going to share 5 of my favorite pieces of advice I have come across for marriage so far.  Not that we always do these things, but they inspire me to make these a part of our relationship on the harder days...

1.  However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.  Ephesians 5:33
2.  Keep your marriage as the priority (with God as the center), even before your own children, and this will ultimately be the key to a happy marriage and happy children too.  (We struggle with this one!)
3.  It's the little things.  
4.  Never lose the fine art of dating. Set aside a romantic evening on a regular basis to rekindle the magic of a long-term relationship. It doesn't have to be fancy, just special time for the two of you to remember how and why you first fell in love.  (maybe we can work on this when we are in the same part of the country again?  LOL)
5.  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.  Ephesians 4:26
And...my husband is a firm believer in hugs and I love you's which I often take for granted but love about him!   

Do you have any favorites?

On the 12th Day of December, the GOOD LORD gave to me...a marriage only he could create:)  No it doesn't rhyme, but it's the best I got!  I have to give all of the glory to God for bringing us this far.  And for giving us our little fire ball Cam.  Wishing everybody a cozy and calm weekend with your loves!