You're Married?

                                   

                                            It's pretty well known that I am married. Not only that I am married, but that I am 17. Not only am I 17, but I was married at 16. To be honest, getting married to the love of my life at 16 was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I LOVE being married. I get to spend everyday with my best friend. How much better could it get?!  I know, I know, "You're still in the honeymoon stage.". Yea, probably,and I'd like it to stay that way. I know it won't always be peachy, and believe me it haves't been perfect. We've been through a lot in our 8 months of marriage. But, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?
                                     
 I work in a store called Talbots. For those of you who read that with a question mark in mind, Talbots is a high end store for women. It rocks. Now, it already throws people off a little when they walk into the store and I say "Hi, How are you today? Can I help you find anything?" Seeming I look like I'm 13, I understand their confusion. No offense taken. Can you imagine there faces when they  see that I'm married? It's pretty funny. I will be talking about the fit of a sweater and all of a sudden the question comes up. " You're married?!" I'm used to it by now. But, can't help but laugh a little. I've  heard a variety of responses.  "You're so young!", "Where you pregnant?!", oh and my favorite, "You don't know what you want yet!" My response? Yes, I am young. No, I wasn't pregnant. and Yes, I do know what I want. I know that I want whatever God wants for my life. My life is His.

                                    Tyler and I were reading some blogs the other day about young married couples. Specifically blogs that where written by Christian young married couples. We found ourselves laughing often at things we could relate to and saying "That's so true!". But, one thing we laughed hardest at was the fact that most of the "young married couples" got married when they were 19-21! Ha! That's at least 3 years older then me! But, their stories were so much like what we have been through. In our culture, yes, getting married at 19,20,21, even 22, is really young. As I was reading the blogs I got thinking. So, I kept thinking and here's what I thought.
                                   Tyler and I are young. That's true. We don't know everything. As a matter of fact....we know very little. We have a lot to learn. And that's good! We get to learn and grow together. Any couple who I know who has been married for any amount of time has times when they disagree, misunderstand, or when they don't get along with there spouse. The truth is every couple young and old goes through the things that marriage has. Marriage is GOOD. But it is work. I think that marriage doesn't have everything to do with age. It has to do with maturity and understanding. Ty and I understand that marriage is a picture God gave us. We understand that it is work. We understand that we have to work things out in order to make it work. It all comes down to the fact that we love each other. We want to glorify God together as a married couple. So,yes, I am married. Yes, I'm young. I wouldn't change anything if I could. I love my husband and I am so thankful I got to meet him so early in life!

My paperclip Heart

                I have been wanting to start a blog for a few months now. I am not very good at writing or grammar but maybe this will help me learn.. I will do my best! The idea came to me a few days after my wedding. I have always loved to read other people's blogs, to hear their stories and ideas. So, here are my stories, ideas, and my adventures.
               
                 I..love..weddings... Who doesn't?! They are so full of joy, smiles, happy tears, hugs, flowers,  true love, and so much more! I was blessed enough to marry the love of my life this past May. It was truly the best day of my life. Even though it was super cold and it rained the whole day, I couldn't have asked for a better day. My friends and family gathered to watch as we said our "I do's". Everything went great, and by the end of the day we were married! I have so many memories from that day. Memories of all the great things that come along with weddings. Times like these remind me just how blessed I am. Out of all those great memories I have a few favorites... OK, a lot of favorites.  The one that I've been wanting to share took place at the rehearsal dinner, the night before the wedding...

                  When I was 3 ish my family and I were at my Aunt and Uncles house for a visit.  I took a red paper clip and cut it in half and made half of a heart out of each half of the paper clip. I gave one to to my Uncle Bobby and kept one for myself. I was so proud of them. He promised he would keep in in his wallet for keeps. Every time from then on, whenever I would visit we would take out our paper clip hearts and put them on the table so they made a full heart. Every time I would watch Uncle Bobby tuck it safely back into the same pocket of his wallet and put it away. At some point I lost my half...then found it again..then lost it..and so on and so on. Every time I would go visit, whether I had it or not, Uncle Bobby would take his half out just to reassure that it remained safely in his wallet. What I didn't know then was that when I gave him that half of a paper clip, he intended to give it to my future husband.

               At the rehearsal dinner, I was sitting with Tyler and some family and friends eating. My Aunt and Uncle came over to sit and chat. I watched Uncle Bobby pull out his wallet and take out the red paperclip heart that I gave to him so many years ago. He looked at Tyler and handed him my paperclip heart. He told me about how when I first gave it to him he planned on giving it to the man I would choose to marry . He told Tyler to take good care of it. Now, my paperclip heart stays in Tyler's wallet in the same pocket Uncle Bobby used to keep it in. Every once in a while Ty pulls it out and shows me....just to show me he still has it. He takes good care of it.

      I don't know if this story is nearly as interesting or "touching" to other people as it is to me. But, this story makes me cry. I cry as I  look back, because not only do I know that my Uncle Bobby was always going to keep my paperclip heart safe, I also knew that along with my daddy, brothers, and all of those other men God placed in my life, I was always protected. As he handed that paperclip heart over to my husband, he was showing that he trusted that Tyler would protect, love, and take care of me, just as I had always been (and know I still am), protected and loved.

           Every time Tyler pulls out that paperclip heart I am reminded of how blessed I am. I couldn't ask for a better family. God gave me a family who loves, protects, and teach me so much . He also placed a God fearing, loving, and caring man in my life who I am very in love with. Together, with the example of both our amazing families, we will take what we learned about love, life, and God and, teach others the same.