He made me sparkle

Yesterday was my anniversary, my 10th as a matter of fact. I had intended on blogging last night, but I opted for relaxing on the couch and watching some TV shows instead. Yesterday afternoon was a busy one for me as I was out at the mall (a place i usually always avoid) with both my kids and trying to figure out what in the world I was going to get for my husband. Men have it pretty easy, some jewelry, flowers, chocolates - that usually satisfies nearly every woman. But what do we women get a man? This largely depends on your man for starters. So I was heading into the Hallmark store, and changed my mind. What really would they have had in there for him? Instead I headed to the Things Remembered kiosk. I scanned what they had on display and then the woman asked if I needed help. Did I need help? I surely did.

I told her it was my 10th anniversary and I had no clue what to get my husband. Hey, I was honest. She suggested mugs, to which I thought no, we have too many already. She showed me travel mugs, to which I knew they would end up in his car unwashed and smelly. I was looking at pocket knives when she suggested this flash drive, which is a storage device for your computer. It was on a keychain, and they are small and not only do I use them I know he does as well. This was it. The price seemed right but then I got hit with the total cost after the engraving...okay...it's for our anniversary, I spent the money. Something he shouldn't lose, break, and that he hopefully will use. So with such a tiny space for engraving (these things easily fit into your pocket with lots of extra room) what does one say? Perhaps I could have worded it more eloquently but I simply thanked him for 10 wonderful years. Just saying Happy Anniversary didn't seem like enough.
When my husband got home we exchanged gifts. He seemed happy enough with his and he gave me diamond stud earrings, 1/4 carat. I guess I sorta expected it and now I want to get a second hole put into each of my ears so I can leave them in all the time and still wear the other earrings he's given me in the past. These are my 10 year anniversay earrings...they are significant and mean a lot. The road wasn't all roses to get where we are, but we're here. Sure we may argue and drive each other crazy sometimes, but we've fought to stay together because we promised we would. Marriage means a lot to him and myself. It's not something that we simply will try to walk away from when things get a little hard, or even a little boring. I can't see my life without him in it. We were meant to be together...we just fit.
So reflecting on my previous post, "don't force what's not working", if you're married you make it work and it shouldn't be like forcing it. You aren't forcing a marriage to be, you are both working together to keep it together, and maybe to some outsiders it looks effortless...but if you're married, you know that it sometimes takes some effort, but that's not that same as forcing it. However, if you're dating and it's just not going well but for one reason or another you want to make it work, I think sometimes it's better to let it go. You can't force something that's not meant to be. Do I believe in love at first sight? No. Do I believe in soul-mates? Not really, because I think you make someone your soul-mate, you don't just randomly meet them. Do I believe in destiny? Partly. I do think that people are brought to each other, or to situations for a reason. My husband was put in my life at a time that wasn't my happiest of days. He was like the light shining on my diamond earrings making them sparkle...he made me sparkle (and no, I'm not referring to any tacky vampire sparkling). Now we have 2 happy children that have taken over our lives and changed us forever. (and it's wonderful!)