My e-mail messages are read but not-yet replied to.
My husband is asleep on the couch, hugging a pillow tightly to his chest.
And I am so glad.
Ben and I are recovering from our first week of being Mr. and Mrs. Friesen.
Last Sunday, we had an incredible celebration of marriage with many of our favorite people up at Sugar Pine Christian Camps. There were cupcakes and bubbles and pine trees and conversations. We went just a few miles up the road to Tenaya Lodge who extended an incredibly generous offer for two nights in a luxury suite--complete with whirlpool bathtub and two balconies. After a rejuvenating start to our week we landed back in Fresno and continued the process of turning our white-walled space into a more comfortable home. Organizing clothes, washing dishes, and carrying loads of our stuff across the parking lot was a therapeutic part of nesting. I went back to work and Ben cooked meals. We watched "Baby Animals in the Wild" on Netflix. We kissed and snuggled.
It was bliss.
As a duo of People Who Understand Real Life, Ben and I spoke long before this week about how life together would not always reflect easy and lovable thoughts or experiences. There would be times to come that would be challenging and tear-filled and frustrating. It would not always be blissful. That is why we decided that we should put time and energy into writing our commitments to each other and share them on our wedding day.
Ben and I are recovering from our first week of being Mr. and Mrs. Friesen.
Last Sunday, we asked our family and friends to run around like crazy people setting up food and decorations and taking pictures at Sugar Pine Christian Camps. My sister and I got devoured by [fleas? bed bugs?] which left itchy red welts for days. We went a few miles up the road to Tenaya Lodge and came home earlier than anticipated because we were not feeling well enough to hike in Yosemite. After a tiring start to our week we landed back in Fresno and spent hours moving stuff around and trying to find parking. I had to drop my online class and Ben made phone calls. We watched my heart rate and took a trip to Kaiser. We worried and I cried.
It was tough.
As the Man I Love snores on the sofa and I look over my discharge instructions from the E.R. I feel at peace. Honestly, I don't think I would change anything about this first week of our marriage. If we only kept the blissful moments, the moments of color and light that will stick with us forever, we would be missing so much. Because these are the times we wrote our vows for. We get to start living out our promises to each other now!
I choose you through sickness, through health. Through good times and bad. Through feeling ecstatic being in your presence and through times when we may disagree or even fight. I commit my love to you, to be loyal to you, to protect you, serve you, to partner with you in the journey God has laid out for us.
Cheers to a beautiful first week of loving and living out our commitment to each other.
Cheers to five thousand more.
Ben, thank you for being my Home and allowing me to be yours. I cannot express how grounded I feel doing life with you. Let's continue on in goodness, in health, and in God's perfect love.
