8 years (or 28.87% of my life)

Eight years ago today we stood in our church back home and blindly and enthusiastically said ‘I will’ to each other. At 19 years old, I’m sure some people thought we were crazy, but there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I was marrying the best man around and I was completely confident that we would make it work. Happily – luckily – I’m here to report that Collin is still the best man around and, praise the Lord, we’ve made it work. Later that night we road off in a little black Nissan to begin our married lives together. Here are just a few of the things I’ve learned in my 2,923 days of being married to the one and only Collin Bullard:

*It isn’t a federal requirement to be a total grump in the mornings. You can be a perfectly nice and pleasant person when you wake up. Oh, and you don’t have to yell when you’re upset about something. (Truly a revelation to this girl at 19 years old.)

*There is a certain combination of ingredients that makes the perfect chocolate chip cookie and, yes, it is necessary to figure out the precise combination, no matter how many batches of cookie dough you must endure.

*You might be appalled and outraged at a particular situation, and rightfully so, but that doesn’t mean outrage is the best or most productive response. Sometimes being calm and quiet and understanding brings about the most change in a person or situation.

*Friends episodes really do make life more enjoyable. This is especially true when watched together or with friends and, naturally, with some homemade chocolate chip cookies.

*It’s okay to dream big and believe that everything will work out for the best. Sure, there are worries and details to muddle through, but it’s all going to be okay in the end. Let’s just all calm the heck down.

*Generosity is really important in a group of friends. Don’t calculate who does/gives/offers what… just keep doing, giving, offering. Generosity inspires generosity and we are all happier and understand a bit more of God’s grace because of it.

I’ll stop now, as this could go on for a while if we let it. He’s a smart man, my husband. Who knows what I will learn in another eight years.