Relaxing

A kind friend (Carrie of Anne of Green Gables) has flown me out to Corvallis, OR to visit her for the week, and we have enjoyed the chance to catch up on each other's lives, eat chocolate, and watch chick flicks. Ahh, the joys of vacation! It's been wonderful to have a break in the daily routine of life, to step away from the constant busyness and spend time journaling and pondering . Aristotle once said (and I paraphrase) that a life lived without reflection was not worth living. I might say that a life lived with reflection and purpose, driven toward the ultimate goal, is the true Christian life.
Being away from Andrew for the first time since we were married has shown me how much closer we have grown over the past year and a half. Single life seems like a distant reality (I hear this is normal). And so, I thought I would offer a short tribute to marriage, that joyous, challenging, and at times hilarious state of being:

Marriage is:

The process of another person finding out all your quirks and oddities, to your great dismay. Said person will often consider all quirks as fair game for teasing.

Making a strange or odd face while reading a new book, and looking up to discover he caught you at it.

Having tea together in the morning while curled up together on the loveseat, discussing such erudite topics as the proper way to make English tea (I am, after all, married to a Stafford)

Washing dishes and hearing him steal up to you, put his arms around you, and kiss the nape of your neck. And, for good measure, tickle you while your hands are still soapy and wet:)

I love you, Dearest.