Monday, June 11, 2012

The Steel Anniversary

We celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary this weekend with camping trip up the Lochsa.
There was:

free camping at "Kayaker Camp"
 
pancakes in a cast iron skillet (the. best.) documented with IP film and the SX-70
 
a nice soak in Weir Hot Springs - all to ourselves
 
and a pair of eagles riding the currents above the ridge where we camped.

This past year was probably the most difficult in our relationship. But we both had some major breakthroughs and now we're in possibly the best shape ever as husband and wife. Each marriage has its own strengths and weaknesses and if you'd asked me 11 years ago if I was ready to go through all of it, I would've returned a blank stare. I didn't know what I was capable of then, and maybe I still don't. 
But accepting your partner 100% they way they are is the best advice I have after 11 years. Just this past year I finally let go of The Way It Should Be and opened my heart to The Way It Is. Don't judge, just love. Simple as that.

3 comments:

Chris said...

Congrats! 11 years ain't no small thing. . . .

goosefairy said...

Yes to everything you said. I might also add, truly appreciate your partner for who they are. Not just acceptance, but appreciation. I've been married for 32 years and my poor husband struggled for so long dealing with his mother's ideas of who and what he should be. Fortunately, she started accepting and appreciating the son she had several years before she died. So, I guess that holds true for all relationships, not just marriage.

megan said...

beautiful. true and lovely. i (re)learn and embrace this same thought every day.