Books, We Read 2 Books

Many people claim that reading marriage books before you get married causes great conversation and moments of honesty. I would have to side with them. Caleb and I read two books: "Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Got Married" and "Real Marriage". We were planning on more but two books for two kids who do not appreciate the leisure of reading did mighty good for two.

It seems like forever ago that we read Things I Wish... by Gary Chapman but I do remember the moments and exercises we did at the end of every conversation. We did really learn a lot about eachother. How does mom do things? What expectation do you have of me in A, B, C? Why do you need to be in charge of finances and not me? Do you want me to mother the children at home or shall I be a working lady? Things some of you read and think, "heck, don't live in that mentality. You are a woman with RIGHTS."  Peeps, I am pumped to "submit", I am excited to be dependent on someone. I have lived life depending on those around me but knowing at the end of the day I am independent in my decisions; It is all about me. Well, surprise... marriage is about us, we, the other one. I learned how that can look without being terrible and how it can look and actually be a natural feeling. We know what chores are to be done by whom and we know why it is a smart idea for me to have an allowance like a 2nd grader so I don't "lose" money on accident due to shoes and the GAP.

Real Marriage by Mark Driscoll was a'ight but seemed long and too over our heads. The struggle the Driscolls go through are for married peeps and not wannabes. The Sex section harmed us and didn't help us. We were put into the spot of "Is the birth control that you use abortive?" Ours is semi-abortive. What the crap!?!? (Another day, another blog post), we have not looked too far into it and we still use it so I think we are just fine for now. Mark and Grace, his wife, talked about how communication is crucial and WANTING to know you spouse is life or death for a marriage. We learned that going beyond the book and doing the "homework" is needed in order to take the book home. Caleb has done the homework, I am still working on it. Homework is answering questions, doing the hard work to figure out what a marriage is to look like from "A's" perspecitve and then seeing how that goes along with "B's" perspective. I think it will be great. We did learn about the stagnant moments of a marriage... they happen and we are not supposed to sulk in them but find a way out. Life is crucial to be done together if your marriage is to work. I believe that to be true.

So my takeaway...
I love Caleb with a lot of my heart and I know I have found my gameday buddy, my forever pal. He truely makes me the happiest and is the one to know me better than anyone else. I love that man. I love him. A lot. Soon and very soon I can hold possesion of him and no one else can even think about him without thinking of me. We are going to be one. Hoo-Rahhhh.