Seven years of marriage. Somehow it feels like Matt and I were celebrating our wedding day just yesterday, and at the same time, I can hardly imagine life before the one we’ve built together.
When I look back, I think about the trips, anniversary dinners and milestones, of course. But the memories that make me smile most are often smaller: laughing together in the car, catching up after the kids are in bed and turning an ordinary errand into a little time together. Seven years have given us a whole collection of moments that are ours, and I’m grateful for every chapter.
Marriage has taught me a lot about love and about myself. We’re still learning and growing, which means there’s always something new to discover about each other. In honor of our anniversary, here are seven things I’ve learned along the way.
1. Love and honesty belong together.
There is something special about being able to tell someone what is on your heart and know they want to understand it. Marriage has taught me that honesty can be a way of caring for each other. It gives us the chance to share what we need, talk about what matters and keep getting closer as life changes.
I’ve learned to appreciate the conversations that help us know each other better, even when they take a little courage to begin. Being honest with the person you love is one way of inviting them into your world.
2. Being on the same team makes everything sweeter.
One of my favorite parts of marriage is having someone to share life with. We get to celebrate the exciting things together, but we also have each other on the busy, ordinary days when there are schedules to juggle and decisions to make.
Being a team doesn’t mean we always see things the same way. It means remembering that we’re building this life together. I love knowing we can come back to each other, find our way forward and keep cheering each other on.
3. Grace makes room for growth.
After seven years, I’ve learned that neither of us will get every moment right. We’ll misunderstand each other sometimes or wish we had said something differently. What matters is that we care enough to listen, apologize and keep learning.
There is a lot of love in giving each other room to grow. Some of the most meaningful moments are the quiet ones that follow: when someone remembers what you said, makes an effort or finds a new way to show they care.
4. The ordinary moments become some of your favorite memories.
I will always love a getaway or a beautiful dinner together. But marriage has made me appreciate the small moments just as much. It’s laughing about something only the two of us understand, watching a movie together after a long day or realizing that a quick trip to the store turned into a date.
Life with three kids is full, and those little pockets of time together are precious to me. They remind me that a wonderful life is made up of regular Tuesdays, car rides, inside jokes and the comfort of having your person beside you through it all.
5. Saying what you need is a way to let someone love you.
We all want to feel known by the person we married. Over the years, I’ve learned that part of being known is being willing to share what’s going on inside. Sometimes that means asking for more time together, a little help, a hug or simply someone to listen.
The more we share with each other, the more chances we have to show up for each other in ways that matter. I think there’s something sweet about still learning how to love your person better, even after years together.
6. You get to keep discovering each other.
Seven years is enough time for life to change in so many ways. Our family has grown, our routines have changed and we’ve each grown too. One of the gifts of marriage is getting a front-row seat to the person you love becoming more of who they are.
I want us both to keep finding things that excite us, pursuing our goals and sharing those discoveries with each other. There is still so much life ahead of us, and I love that we don’t have to know exactly who we’ll be in ten years to look forward to getting there together.
7. Choosing each other happens in the little moments.
We chose each other on our wedding day, but I’ve learned that love shows up in choices we make every day afterward. It’s making time to talk, finding reasons to laugh, reaching for each other in a busy season and remembering to enjoy the life we’re creating while we’re living it.
Seven years in, I’m thankful for all the ways we continue to choose this life together. I’m thankful for the adventures we’ve had, the family we’ve built and the thousands of everyday moments that have brought us here.
Maybe that’s my favorite thing marriage has taught me: love isn’t only found in the big celebrations. It’s woven through the life you share every day. Happy anniversary Matt! I love you an the life we have worked so hard to build together.
