For better or for worse, red pants included

Kevin and I celebrated our 7th anniversary last week.

Seven years ago we dressed up, met at the end of the church aisle, exchanged rings, and vowed our commitment to one another for better of for worse. Of course you really have no idea what you mean by those words, no way to predict what may come-- no way to know how important it is to put the toilet paper on the right way, to not hog the blankets, to know what handle turns off the water when the pipe your groom unscrewed is flooding the basement, to never consider ridding your husband's wardrobe of a pair of red sweatpants he received when he was in highschool.

No, as we stood there in front of our friends and family we could not forsee that the strength of our relationship would be tested by an argument over the existence of aliens, or that a simple cracked pipe could actually flood a kitchen in a short period of time, or just how cold a home can get when the furnace breaks in the wintertime, or that true love would show itself in the ability to walk beside your beloved in walmart when he is wearing his cherished 10 year old red sweatpants.

But here we are, for better or worse, red sweatpants included. And I have to say that along with having more than our fair share of the better, Kevin has made these good years for us.

I can honestly say that I love him more and like him better than I did when I married him (and I really liked him and loved him then). But through these last 7 years I have come to appreciate him even more as my friend, my confidant, my supporter, my encourager, the father of our children, and my spouse. He is one great guy, and as Amy Grant so aptly sang it "doo doo, do do do do, hey I'm the lucky one" (or something like that).

And if his commitment to these highly durable red pants is any indication of his commitment to me, I think I am in good shape.