By: Lily Carter
Oct. 11, 2015
“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
Nearly a decade ago, Jake and I exchanged those vows. Honestly, I can’t recall much from that day. We were both clueless, just starting out on this journey called marriage. I was 25, the last of my friends to tie the knot—except for my friend who was busy in med school and didn’t marry until she was 30. We spoke the words, and off we went on our adventure.
Fast forward ten years…
Conversation with My Husband
Husband: Where did my white dress shirt and suit pants go?
Me: I have no clue.
(Awkward silence)
Me: When did you last wear them?
Husband: Last year.
Stunned, I couldn’t help but poke fun at him, as any good wife would.
Me: I can’t be the Keeper of All Things! I’m just one person! You should know where your pants are! How is it possible you haven’t worn them in ten entire months? Oh my goodness, we need to find a church and start going. It’s important for the kids. They need to learn Bible stories because I keep forgetting to teach them; I’m too busy just keeping everyone alive, and the only ones I can recall are Adam and Eve and the Christmas Story. Why are you laughing?!
Jake, ever the patient man, listened to my entire rant before asking me to check with the dry cleaner to see if I had forgotten to pick them up nearly a year ago.
Me: “Well… okay,” I replied. “But I usually keep track of that stuff.”
Karma has a funny way of catching up with you. After three days of searching for Jake’s suit pants and shirt, I decided to swing by our old dry cleaner—the one I don’t frequent anymore because it’s so far away.
As soon as I pulled in, the guy behind the counter started chuckling. My cheeks turned red, and I felt an indescribable mix of embarrassment and disbelief.
“Hi, Mrs. Carter. I knew you’d come back! I told my boss not to give your stuff away!” he said as I collected all the clothes our family wore for Christmas photos almost a year ago.
Apparently, I had overlooked missing clothes, too. That’s the essence of marriage.
Resources for Family Planning
If you’re curious about family planning, check out this excellent resource on thinking about fertility treatment. For more information on how to navigate the journey of parenthood, visit this blog post for insights into home insemination kits. And if you’re interested in at-home insemination, Make A Mom is a great authority on the topic.
In summary, marriage is an unpredictable journey filled with mistakes, laughter, and moments that remind us of the chaos of life. Through it all, we learn to rely on each other, even when the little things—like suit pants—get lost in the shuffle.