Eighteen years ago tonight, this dude kissed me on his couch. I remember it clearly — sweet and soft and slow, Explosions in the Sky playing in the background, two baby boys sleeping soundly down the hall. Afterward, he pulled away from me and whispered, “I wasn’t supposed to do that.” He wasn’t wrong… most would agree we were neither right nor ready for each other. But alas, the heart wants what it wants and sometimes, that’s miraculously enough for God to do his thing.
I’ll try, I respond to his request. I’ll try, too, he replies. And thus is the story of us these days. From laundry reminders to gentler words, and all of the nuances in between.
When a friend asked for a craft night sleepover with my kids, and Ravn emailed me notification of pending flight expiration, I acted on a whim. I booked a night for Chris & I here, complete with massage appointments and a fancy dinner this evening. We’ll be home in less than 24 hours. Happy Anniversary, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year to us.
It’s been a pretty fantastic 24 hours. Merry Christmas!
Today my husband started counseling for the first time ever and loved it, but didn’t want to talk about it. Tonight I made tissue paper lanterns for our solstice party with friends, where we will look at each other in the cold dark and whisper we have turned another year. I am proud of both.
My sweetheart has been building a Christmas album for as long as I’ve known him. In fact, the first gift he ever gave me was his version of “Silent Night” delivered to my dorm room.
We are up to 22 tracks now, and I say “we” because he’s received much help from friends and family over the last two decades. Band mates, in-laws, dear friends, all six kids, and even a hesitant wife have contributed. We’d love for you to give it a listen this week! Merry Christmas.
I surprise myself every time I reference my baby and someone asks about her age. Good gracious, she’ll be ten on her next birthday. And then we attend events like our church staff Christmas party tonight and hold actual babies and remember how intense those years were and how quickly they’ve passed. I miss those days and I love the ones I’m in now.
