Cruising Through 13 Years of Marriage

13 years of Marriage…

That’s what I have been celebrating this week. 13 years of not always getting it right but refusing to give up. 13 years of waking up next to a handsome man! 13 years of making memories and creating a home! 13 years of falling in love over and over again with that same man! 13 years of new beginnings!

Holy Guacamole! Havana, Cuba

We flew to Miami the night before our Cruise and stayed at a very chic hotel. The view of the Ocean was absolutely amazing in our corner room with windows on each side! We woke up on our Anniversary and indulged in an absolutely amazing breakfast on the terrace.

We put our phones down and sat in a double seater swing and had conversation between the two of us that didn’t involve any kind of work! How sweet is this swing? I love it so much!

I really would just follow him to the great unknown! I am so blessed and I love how he still makes my heart skip a beat. I turn into that same teenage girl every time I look at him from across the room. I was 16 walking into a local Church Conference with my sister in law and there he was, playing the drums and taking my breath away. That’s where our story began. His curly hair and good looks instantly grabbed my attention but it was his selfless, confident, friendly, spontaneous, giving, caring and fun personality that kept me. He is perfect for me!

Trust, love and respect is how we have made it 13 years! One thing I hear from my husband often is, “just let me take care of you!” or "you are going to have to be ok with me taking care of you. It's what I do!"..... I mean how can you resist a man wanting to take care of you? He is so good to me and through the years that I’ve been with him, I have become better about bending my will and letting him take care of me and love me. I am learning more and more just how uncommon a healthy, long lasting marriage has become. Especially, a relationship that started before a couple even graduated High School! So, for the healthy marriage and man I have, I am so very thankful. Together, we are ready to tackle as many more years as God will allow!

Michael has an uncanny ability to talk to anyone and as we were cruising this week, he told everyone he talked to that we were celebrating our Anniversary! It made me blush that he was proud of me, because I don’t always feel like I am on the same level as him. He has unshakeable confidence and that used to scare me, intimidate me and make me question if I was worth his attention. I struggled with feeling like I wasn't good enough for him. Now, his confidence and stamina are a safety net to me. That fearless presence that commands attention gives me strength and security. I never truly knew love until I felt his love. I am so thankful that my boys have a man like him to look up to!

I am a hopeless romantic I suppose but when he holds me tight, I want time to stand still. We dressed up and took pictures one night during our cruise and received so many compliments. It’s not hard to see if a couple is happy or not. You can also quickly observe if there is deep affection by the way they care, touch, look and speak to one another. My husband understands that based on my love language, I need to feel loved. He knows that I need to hear him compliment me, flirt with me and be confident that I am #1 in his heart! A little PDA never hurt anyone either…

Our getaway was a much-needed time of seclusion together. Breakfast & ice cream cone dates with him was one of my most favorite things on our trip. I love a cozy meal nestled at a small table in the sunshine! He is my best friend and when I am exploring with him, I feel safe, excited, loved, appreciated and ready to conquer the world. My husband encourages me to try new things and get out of my comfort zone. We enjoyed an ATV adventure in Grand Turk! I explored the reef in the Ocean and took a souvenir back in my foot... ouch! Not to worry, my husband got it out for me!

My heart swelled during our Cruise when I saw a sweet elderly man smiling with pride at his beautiful bride, then another experienced couple slow dancing like they were the only two people on the ship. Watching a couple in Havana, Cuba holding hands, lost in conversation then observing her taking his picture and smiling as if she was seeing a younger version of him through the lens. It was like she was in a place that takes you back in time and she was imagining her life as it was back then when she fell in love with her husband. It was precious and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their love for each other.

These couples were old enough to be my grandparents but they really got it. They valued each other with an unwavering, completely dedicated, ‘til death do us part kind of love. That's what I want! As far back as I can remember, I prayed for someone like my husband. Someone who would see me and love me without getting disappointed or bored. I wanted a lifelong marriage, full of bliss with someone who wanted me.

He inspires me to be more because he believes in me. I know I am always good because he is looking out for me, he is taking care of me, he is making me better. Just this morning, I looked at him across the breakfast table and with butterflies in my stomach, I fell just a little more in love. He grows more and more handsome with age and never in a million years did I think that was possible.

My view at breakfast!

May 20, 2006 will forever be my favorite but the way we have forged our personalities and habits since that day has been a daily work of art. The effort will always worth it because it has made our marriage the super power that it is. I have officially had him on my team, in my corner and in my life longer than I was without him! There is no other person I would’ve chose to build my life with.

I look forward to seeing the rest of my life with Michael unfold. I know whatever our story brings, we are greater together. I have his back and he has mine, together we are a strong force!

Happy Anniversary to the man who made me a Queen and made all my dreams realities! I am thankful that he allows me to be me, even when he doesn’t understand. I am grateful that he gets my sense of humor and I am blessed that he is the father of my children! He always seems to find a way to make me smile. I love the way he supports me, the way he looks at me, the way he holds me and most of all the way he loves me!

I’m so happy I get to be his lady and he’s my man! How did I ever do life without him? Until our next adventure my love!

XOXO -Denisha