Monday, December 3, 2007

It's been nineteen years!

(This is a photo of my wife and her sisters in Nigeria in October 2007. She is the gorgeous one in the white)

Wow! It’s hard to believe it, but I’ve been married nineteen years today. It’s been an amazing journey and I’ve discovered things about myself (and about marriage) that have needed every one of the nineteen years to learn. The truth is though, that in some ways it feels like just yesterday that I was a young and dashing groom, starry-eyed at the prospects of becoming a husband and a father, yet in other ways (especially when I have to hold in my stomach so that it doesn’t droop over my belt) it feels like an eternity of good, home-cooked meals and lazy Sunday afternoons in front of one football game or another.

In retrospect, I realize that the smartest thing I ever did, other than making the decision to become a Christian, was to marry my wife. She has made my life infinitely easier and has prayed for and loved me into seeking to become the man that God ordained for me to be. I’m still a work in progress but trust me when I tell you that the last nineteen years have had a definitive and positive impact on my life. So if you’re thinking of getting married, find someone who’s just like my wife… oop’s, sorry, the mold was thrown away after she was made, so you’re just going to have to make do with second best.

To those silent readers who never post a comment, today would be a good day for you to send congratulations so that we know you’re out there. Well, enough blogging for today, I need to go and figure out what we’re doing for dinner tonight so that I can really enjoy my nineteenth wedding anniversary.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well congratulations on 19 wonderful years with the "perfect woman". I don't think I've met anyone who doesn't love her or doesn't agree with how wonderful she actually is (and brave for sticking it out this long with you :-)) Now that we know when your anniversary is, and that next year is your 20th, we'll have to begin planning now for something special. And maybe we could join you - if it doesn't involve any flying, cruises, or, basically travelling. (ha!)

Hope you have a wonderful time at dinner. We love you guys!

R&M

Joseph said...

Let's do a cruise or something!!! Thanks so much for your kind words R&M "Anonymous."

Alison G. Altmayer said...

I am not a silent reader :-) But I would like to congratulate you for the 19th anniversary. In January it will be our 6th here ... not a long journey but a positive and teaching one... Hope dinner was special for you both!!!
Alison, from Brazil

Joseph said...

Alison, in this day and age 6 years of marriage is nothing to sneeze at. Thanks so much for your kind congratulations. Dinner was really good (even though our kids joined us)!!!

Unknown said...

Way-ta-go, Joseph and Sola! We cheer in our hearts for marriages like yours.

Thanks for sharing so much of your heart in these posts.

Joseph said...

Thanks Steve. You have been 'majorly' instrumental in my evolution. I value what you add to my life.

Anonymous said...

Dearest Joseph (& Solape),
As the man who stood in wonderfully as our best man, (also 19yrs ago), is a fantastic Godfather to our eldest daughter, and has been MORE than a friend to us through thick and thin, whose luvly wife has also been a friend to our sister for more than 30 years... can we say how priviledged it has been to have had you guys as part of our lives. We love you guys dearly and pray for many more years of good cooking and lazy Sunday afternoons! 'Klinton' and 'Reggie', T, D & Y (UK) xxx

Joseph said...

Reggie,
Thanks so much for your comments. You and 'Klinton' form an integral part of our history and our metamorphosis. We love you and the kids lots. Have a great Christmas over in London.