According to Wikipedia marriage is:
“Marriage is a personal union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is called a wedding and the status created is sometimes called wedlock.”
According to Monica, marriage is:
“An agreement by two people (no, I DON’T care if it’s same sex fer cryin’ out loud! that dispute is getting old to me… sheesh):
-
combine assets,
-
allow the other full access to your heart (yes, even the potential to hurt one another),
-
publicly announce you are taken (jeeze, this one was like putting out an announcement in the paper – or maybe we should have),
-
to love the other one – even when you are angrier than a bull getting messed with by a guy with a red blanket,
-
to not leave or announce DIVORCE ’cause you just can’t take it anymore
-
to respect eachother’s lives (yes, we actually DO still have our own lives)
-
to deal with the other’s families, even if you aren’t sure why they do what they do (not my hubbies family ofcourse)
to learn, to love, through sickness and health – ’till death do us part kinda thing”
So, after having our 2 year wedding anniversary I can say we’ve done all of the above.
What is a marriage that works? To me, it’s one you keep working on.
I was married once before, so was he. His lasted longer than mine… mine lasted all of 6 years. Enough time to have my beautiful children and thank my ex-husband for the time I had with him. It wasn’t a pretty breakup, but very quiet – we just gave up.
Daniel and I work hard sometimes on our marriage. He came in to a family – me and three children. I took on him and his son. He is a neat freak, I’m messier than all heck. He is a perfectionist with money… me? Well… I have some and my kids are fed and I was always able to pay the bills and keep what I had, that’s all that mattered to me.
We are so different in so many ways. SO many ways. I talk to my ex-boyfriend once in awhile, he talks to his ex-wife almost daily. His ex-girlfriend reads my blog, my ex-boyfriend reads my MySpace.
He is a great provider, a wonderful step-father, and great other things. 
So what do I feel today that’s different than when he and I first started this relationship? I feel secure, happy, and at peace.
There are days when both of us wonder “what next?”.
Today we just get to *be*.
I love my husband and am glad we fought so hard to be together. We each left people with broken hearts to come together. They just weren’t the ones we were to share our lives with.
According to Monica ~ Marriage: A Union of Two Spirits that Chose to Come Together In This Life to Learn with Eachother
~Monica~
Happy Anniversary to you both. This was a very lovely post. Well done. You both have a well rounded relationship. I can tell you appreciate the wonderful gift you have been given.
Hope you all are having a fantastice weekend.
Take care,
T.
Hi T:
Thank you so much for the words. I think too many give up on marriage because it’s the *easy* way to go. There are reasons that I think without a doubt divorce would be the way to go (physical abuse or mental abuse is what I’m thinking here), but in our society it’s easier to *just give up*.
I do appreciate the gift I’ve been given. And, I rant and rave when I have issues in the marriage as well. Hey, I’m human.
Love and Light dearest friend,
Monica
Congrats on two years! When I first tied the knot with my hubby, I didn’t really know what everyone meant when they said one had to continually work on marriage. By the end of year one I had an inkling, and now that we’re an "old married couple" I have no doubts! The funny thing is, it’s not what I’d consider the typical threats that are a problem …but avoiding complacency! I guess I’m lucky! Anyway, here’s to wishing you many more wonderful years together!
Brenda ~ oh to be the "old married couple"! At year two we have worked on so much… probobly because we aren’t young KIDLESS folks… LOL
Love and Light, thank you so much for your wishes!
Mon