once again a mrs....

well, we will be married 2 weeks tomorrow!
i was just thinking about what advice i will give to my daughter regarding marriage (which she will promptly ignore i'm sure). i do not claim to be an expert on anything, certainly not marriage. clearly i did something wrong the first time, and i'm only 2 weeks into this one :-)

but anyway, here's my 2 cents...

don't marry someone (or be in a serious relationship for that matter) thinking you can change them. it's hard enough to change your own habits and thoughts, impossible to change someone who doesn't want to change.

be sure to agree on these 3 things: religon, kids and money - the big 3 -

love is a choice. love is an action. it is not limited to a feeling. those exciting, butterfly feelings early in a relationship will fade over time. but don't forget those butterfly feelings. remember how lucky you are to have each other and always put time into meeting each others needs.

read "the five love languages" and "his needs, her needs"

marriage isn't always pretty. it isn't always easy. sometimes you have to "give in". sometimes your spouse "gives in".

put your relationship with your spouse above your relationship with your children. this one is hard for me. the love i have for my daughter is so pure and unconditional. so consuming that, without a moments hesitation, i would die for her. the love i have for my husband is not unconditional. it is based on the respect i have for him by the way he treats me and others and the love he shows me.
yet, my relationship with him must always be my priority. the gift i will give to my children is raising them in a home where they will see what a marriage is supposed to be like. a marriage where their daddy loves their mommy as Christ loved the church. a marriage where their mommy submits to their daddy. they will see that their parents enjoy spending time together and will know where our priorites lie. they will have high standards when they choose their spouse. they will not settle for a mediocre marriage.

all this to say: morgan, although you are only 2 years old, i know the day will come when you will leave our home and become a young man's wife. over the next 20 years or so, i hope that bo and i will teach you what you are worth and what really matters in life.

we love you more than you know

momma