5 ways marriage has changed me. 5 ways, 5 years. Come the 30th of this month, that’s how long Jason and I have been together in this thing called marriage.
Sometimes I cannot believe it has already been 5 years, sometimes it just seems like yesterday that we were saying I do, and then laughing because the cake fell over. But other times, it seems like it has been forever. As if I have know Jason all my life instead of just the past 7 years.
We’ve made it 5 years! I’m sure grandma is laughing as she reads this and thinking, “that’s nothing, we made it 50!” 🙂 But in today’s society, it is a long time, sadly enough. Regardless of whether 5 seems like an important number or not to you, it is to us, and we will be taking a teeny, tiny little anniversary trip that kinda includes celebrating our birthdays at the same time. More on that later this week.
I’ve been thinking though: I’m not the same girl that stood in front of the minister, friends and family, saying “I do”. I’ve changed, some for the better, and some for the worse. Fortunately hubby took me for better and for worse. 🙂
5 Ways Marriage has Changed Me:
#1 I’m not so uptight about scheduling. Before we were married, you could ask me what time it was and without looking at a clock that minute, I could tell you within 5 minutes of the actual time. I always knew what time it was and stressed horribly if I was even a minute late. Now? Well, I’m glad to not be stressed all the time like that, but it would be nice to be on time again!
#2 I have found confidence. Not that you would’ve of guessed me to be insecure before, my loud mouth and rambunctious ways were just a cover up for how badly I wanted to be accepted. Now, the knowledge that my wonderful and yes, imperfect hubby loves me for who I am, lets me walk taller and be myself. Just having that one person, accept you just the way you are, (family usually does, but we often feel like they have to, so they don’t count), can do wonders for a person’s self esteem.
#3 My focus has changed. Instead of seeking to please and honor God, I focus on pleasing and honoring my husband. This is Biblical and right, but the Lord must still come first.
#4 I have found joy in homemaking. Before I got married, I had all the skills that it takes to run a home, but I didn’t find joy in doing them. It was just something that had to be done. Now, I love donning on an apron and working in the kitchen, I would still like someone to come in and clean up my messes, but that’s another story. 🙂 Making our house a home and a haven for hubby is such a joy to me now.
#5 I don’t always have to be going somewhere and doing something. Growing up on a farm, the work was never finished. Even weekends were busy, but as we got older, Sundays were a day to enjoy with our friends. Now, it’s ok if we come home from church and crawl into bed. Many days it’s more than ok! And I have learned that even though my love language isn’t quality time, and still don’t really understand just sitting together and not saying anything AT ALL, 🙂 I have learned to enjoy it. Both for Jason’s sake and my own.
So those are the top 5 ways marriage has changed me. There are plenty more, like my weight, interests, and even the type of guy I would consider good looking!
Link up for Living Proverbs 31 and then leave me a comment telling me one way marriage has changed you!
I love this post, Kendra. It’s always such a good exercise to think about how marriage has changed us and what we’ve learned over the years. I especially like #2. It’s so sweet that your hubby has given you confidence you didn’t have before. That’s a true friend! Happy anniversary!
I would call him my best friend to be honest 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Anniversary! I will think of you Friday and say a little prayer for your continued happiness~!
Thank you for sharing your heart with such honesty. I visit often but don’t always have the time to com….but I thank for your lovely posts.
My hubby and I will be married 17 years in Dec and boy, did it go fast! I’d love to sit and chat with you over tea…sadly that’s not possible, so this is the next best thing!
Thank you for welcoming us to your home on the web.
God bless
Times does fly. I wish I could slow it down at times for sure!
And tea… that would be nice!
After 34 years with The Sweetheart, the one thing marriage has changed in me the most is it has taught me to be less selfish. I am naturally an “all about me” kind of person when it comes to just he two of us…but it is his fault!! He spoils me so I expect it! And over the years I became too spoiled. Now I am more attentive to him and I think I like myself more, lol. I hope he does too! Happy Anniversary to you two lovebirds!
I truly enjoy “spoiling” hubby. When we do things that he enjoys, even though I wouldn’t choose to go or do on my own; going and doing with him is so much fun because I enjoy his enjoyment. Probably why your hubby loves to spoil you and probably why you like yourself more by spoiling him! 🙂
>>>>I’m sure grandma is laughing as she reads this and thinking, “that’s nothing, we made it 50!” <<<<<
No, I'm not laughing, but your comments made me smile. As usual.
Actually, I was surprised that the Good Lord allowed us these many years together. They just kinda crept up on us.
Happy Birthdays and Anniversary. Hope you enjoy your trip. We sure enjoyed our anniversary trip, while you and Jason and the others worked so hard on our flower beds while we were gone. Boy were we surprised! Thanks loads!
🙂 Glad to make you smile. If the Lord doesn’t return, I hope the time just creeps up on us and we can find ourselves celebrating 50 as well!
Loved seeing the video of your wedding cake falling over…I’m sure it wasn’t so funny at the time, but it gives you a special memory now, doesn’t it?
Congratulations on 5 years!
And thanks for the link up.
Actually we did laugh, even then! Every one was asking me if I was stressed over planning our wedding, and I wasn’t. I even said that something would probably go wrong, after all it wouldn’t be my wedding if it didn’t. So when the cake fell, I had to laugh!
I enjoyed your post today, Kendra (when don’t I?) and look forward to the different things you will share on marriage. We have been married 34 years. I remember when we hit 12 years thinking it was so many because so many don’t hit that many at all. So, I understand what a milestone 5 years is!! So, what ways has marriage change me? Hmmm…well, many!! Mostly I have grown up. I have also learned how “I” must change and NOT my husband!! Even when I think “he” is wrong, I need to change because most often my attitude is wrong or will soon become wrong when I think I am wronged. Yes, when I think I am wrong. Too often we are the one wrong but I can be so self-righteous thinking that “he” is wrong. When I was first married I learned that once I did or said something unkind back I was more wrong than he was…if a ‘wrong’ can be measured, ha! So, my response has GOT to be, “Lord, change me!!”
Thanks for hosting today!!
So true! I have already learned that he is usually right when we get into an argument over something silly. But for some reason when it comes to the serious things, I cannot seem to accept that. Like you said, I have to ask God to change me.
Congrats on five years, yes that’s a biggie! I have known people who didn’t even last a year, but I suppose we all have.
We’ve been married 30 years, and marriage has matured me. It’s grown me from a girl to a woman. And it wasn’t just due to age but due to learning how to “share,” and learning to be less selfish and that I don’t have to have “my way,” lol! Thanks for hosting today.
Marriage has certainly matured me, but I sorta feel like I have a loooong ways to go yet in that area 🙂
I love that you mentioned finding confidence.
This is one of the biggest ways I’ve changed since getting married. It’s amazing how the support and encouragement of your husband can give you the courage and confidence to face the many challenges of life.
Thank you so much for writing this entire website, as well as the list of 5 things that have changed… Last March was 5 years for my dear man and me too, and I easily can say with you how changed these 5 years have made me, including the same ways you mentioned! I find it so comforting to read your positive notes. Thank you!
May God continue to bless your marriage! Thanks as always for the lovely post & for hosting!
Hi! Enjoyed your post and found encouragement in it. Thanks! Hubby and I have enjoyed 15 years of togetherness! Time def flies and lots of memories are made, mistakes are made and learned from, trials are endured together, and joy it is in there too…The biggest thing I have learned…and changed is to pray for him every day to be the leader in our home God wants him to be…and I need to let him do his job as leader. Sometimes it is so easy to take over.. 🙁 And I have learned that a tidy organized house for him to come home to makes him love me more as he feels I am respecting him and listening to his wants. All in all–I have learned to let him know that I respect him and why. Just respecting him and making him feel like he is MY man works wonders!
I’ve learned that too. When he realized that he IS da MAN! in my life, he just walks a little straighter, and treats me a little sweeter… 🙂
Looks like a lot of commonness with my list. I really enjoy the change cause they are all positive one. Thanks for sharing and hosting us too! Have a super blessed day!
Love