Thursday, October 27, 2011

four years of lovin...



Love is just a word until somebody comes along and gives it meaning...

It is October 27th so that means I have been married to an amazing man for 4 years! I cannot believe that it has been four years since we said I DO and that we would love and be with each other forever.

Four years ago the words, "In sickness and in health" were easy words to say and they rolled off the tip of my tongue. Throw sickness and tragedy into the life that I thought was so perfect and those words take on a whole new meaning.
I look at weddings and those words in a whole different way now.

I didn't know that two years shy of just our second wedding anniversary that Ben would be in a coma for 2 months at that point, now know where life was going to take us, if Ben was even going to live, me have a 10 inch scar down the middle of my stomach and a cast and scar on my left arm. Just barely two years of being with my man and suddenly it was all very differnt.

Ben and I cannot change where we are right now. If we had the "miracle brain injury pill" then things would be different. I can wish things were different but I cannot. What we can do is live out our lives to the fullest right here and right now. Things are not perfect, things are not always happy, things are not always grand but life is good. Ben and I have each other and that is all that matters! God saved both of us for a reason. We may not have the marriage that we want right now but we are happily married in the midst of sorrow and tragedy.

I am so grateful that this year Ben and I will not be in a hospital celebrating our anniversary! The first year we were in Atlanta with no words uttered by Ben, the second (our 3rd anniversary) we were in California and Ben was just able to softly say I Love You and this year we are home! We are in our own place and Ben is able to remember our anniversary and says very clearly and loudly every day, I LOVE YOU!
I thank the Lord for those words!

Ben, from the bottom of my heart I LOVE YOU! You belong to me and I to you! We have each other for the rest of our lives. I am honored to be your wife and love you like no other one person could! I want you all back more then you know! You are amazing and from the bottom of my heart I LOVE YOU more then you know!

I’ve been a walking heartache
I’ve made a mess of me
The person that I’ve been lately
Ain’t who I wanna be

But you stay here right beside me
And watch as the storm blows through
And I need you

Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you
Gave me you

There’s more here than what we’re seeing
A divine conspiracy
That you, an angel lovely
Could somehow fall for me
You’ll always be love’s great martyr
And I’ll be the flattered fool
And I need you

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you

On my own I’m only
Half of what I could be
I can’t do without you
We are stitched together
And what love has tethered
I pray we never undo
{God Gave Me You-Blake Shelton}



37 comments:

EmmaLouLiz said...

Katie what an entry! Happy Anniversary! And as soon as I saw the Blake Shelton lyrics a big smile crossed my faced- for that is also the song that speaks VOLUMES to what I have been through and how Alex came into our lives. Mr. Shelton has got to feel good about the comfort he brings to so many people on all their different paths in life :)! We're both going to be okay!

Abby said...

Happy anniversary-- this is so encouraging to read. I've only been married two years, and am always blessed by those who've gone before who are daily living out those vows.
Blessings on you both today!

Emily grapes said...

Happy 4 years to you and Ben!! What a blessing to be able to hear him loudly say I love you.
I hope today is a great day for you both.

Emily w/Amazing Grapes

Lindsay said...

happy anniversary katie! yall are a beautiful couple!

Marcie said...

I love that Balke Shelton song!
Happy Anniversary to an amazing couple!!!!!

Stacey said...

Happy Anniversary. You two show the real meaning of vows and love!

karamurano said...

happy anniversary to a beautiful couple! may God bless you with many more years together <3

Dani*LaLa said...

Your wedding photos are gorgeous. I wish you two nothing but the best and many more happy anniversaries. Love is a beautiful thing and I agree that when you say your vows they are so easy to say until life happens and give those words meanings.

Kim @ The Gab said...

A big Happy Anniversary to you both! I love the wonderful words you shared about Ben.
I continue to marvel at how God is using you to change others. As always, I'm praying for you.

Tiffany said...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! Hope yall have a wonderful day spent together!

Amanda said...

This post makes me tear up because you guys truly are an example of love and marriage in a way that God created us. You are a shining example of the wife God made women to be. Thank you for sharing this and your beautiful wedding pictures!

Erin said...

Happy Anniversary! You both are such beautiful people. They way that you took your vows to hearts is such an inspiration and a perfect example of how God intended love and marriage to work. Forever, no matter what.

Unknown said...

Happy Anniversary my dear! Lots of love from us to you both! xoxoxoxo

Goodnight moon said...

Happy Happy Anniversary!!! The first sentence of your post is so true and brought me to tears! It is amazing to see how far Ben has come in his recovery. I am beyond excited that you are able to send today in your home together, holding hands, kissing and Ben being able to TELL you how much he loves you.

You are both such amazing people! You know I adore and love you both!!!!!

Hugs!

Jessica said...

Happy Anniversary to an amazing couple! Wishing you many more years of love & happiness. xoxo

Unknown said...

Wow lots of tears. This is a beautiful post, for a beautiful couple with a beautiful marriage. God gave you both to each other! A lovely song for this. Have an amazing day with your man. Happy Anniversary.

Chelle said...

Happy Anniversary!!

Susan said...

Congratulations on four years! Thank you for being such an encouragement and an example of a devoted wife!

Jane said...

Happy Anniversary! You two are an inspiration and will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Katie Parrish said...

Your anniversary is my parent's anniversary...and my birthday! It's a great day! Your story continues to bless me! Happy anniversary!

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! You are both such an amazing example of strength and commitment! Thank you for sharing.

Amanda said...

Happy Anniversary- may you all celebrate many more together.

Kodi said...

Happy Anniversary!

Your strenghth as a wife gives me hope that there are still strong marriages out there. Too many couples today are just letting things fall apart for little reasons. You didnt even seem to think twice, there seemed like there was no way you were leaving. To be able to read about the love both of ya'll have for one another seems to make my day. This blog may have started out as a blog of recovery and updates on Ben, but it has turned into one of the greatest love stories ever told.

Thank you so much for sharing with us!:)

Lauren said...

Happy Anniversary, Katie and Ben! I love you both! I'm so happy you can spend it together in your own house this year.

Candace said...

Happy Anniversary! You and Ben inspire me in so many ways. Wishing you lots of love and happiness today and everyday. God Bless.

B. Wilson @ Windy {City} Wilsons said...

Gah, I love that song. ;)

Happy Anniversary! Words definitely are powerful and most people don't even consider them much when spoken in vows. But man we better mean them!

I think your love for one another is lovely.

molly june. said...

LOVE THIS!!!! what an amazing couple you are. happy anniversary!!!! i'm sure days like today can be incredibly happy + rough all at the same time, thinking back to what was, but you always choose to express JOY + HOPE. praying for you today! may God bring you crazy, never ending JOY + PEACE today like never before. you have the MOST beautiful heart, katie. i am blessed to know you ;) XO

Emily said...

Happy anniversary to you guys!
I love that song, so fitting.

Unknown said...

Ben and Katie,

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!

In sickness and in health takes on an entirely new meaning, in our lives, when we encounter sickness and health. Tomorrow (Friday) my Phil is having a biopsy on his lungs and throat as it appears the cancer is back. He's brave and I am scared.

You two are such an inspiration to me. Now I am off to download Blake Shelton onto my ipod to listen to tomorrow while he is in surgery. We have to be at Valley (Renton) by 6am, which is a good thing since I won't be sleeping at all.

Blessings, Mari

Unknown said...

Ben and Katie,

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!

In sickness and in health takes on an entirely new meaning, in our lives, when we encounter sickness and health. Tomorrow (Friday) my Phil is having a biopsy on his lungs and throat as it appears the cancer is back. He's brave and I am scared.

You two are such an inspiration to me. Now I am off to download Blake Shelton onto my ipod to listen to tomorrow while he is in surgery. We have to be at Valley (Renton) by 6am, which is a good thing since I won't be sleeping at all.

Blessings, Mari

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

October is a good month to be married...us too, only a bit longer than you! HA! Happy 4th Anniversary and loved what you shared. Thanks for sticking by your man and enduring the ups and downs. When you are on the other side of it, you will both be stronger and blessed and can help others too. Have a wonderful life together.Loved the wedding photos. Ben still has that awesome smile and I know he's getting better by the photos you have shared. May you only have eyes for each other and the Lord. Hugs to you both!

Anonymous said...

Much love and many prayers to a wonderful couple on their special day. Marion

Jenna said...

Hi
My name is Jenna and I came across your site. Ben is an amazing wonderful person, and you are both a loving, wonderful amazing couple. When someone says the word marriage I believe it means being the person, the good, bad and the worse. I also believe it means being with the person through health issues. You and Ben are a great Example of that, and you love Ben just like he is no matter what. I know that some wifes and husband;s would leave their spouses if they had a brain injury, or an illness. But you are different, and you love him no matter what, and that is all that matters. It goese to show that you are a very special person and so is Ben. I was born with a rare life threatening disease, developmental delays, 14 other health issues. I have been with my fiance for four years now, and just got engaged with him last year. He knows about my issues, that he may lose me, because I may lose my battle, but he says he will fight with me, and love me know matter what! I love it when people sign my guestbook. www.miraclechamp.webs.com

Jo said...

Katie, you are such an inspiration to me! You have just summed up perfectly what a marriage should be, and I just pray that some day I will show this same love to my boyfriend now, and I will be able to be a loving wife to him someday, though good and bad!
I came across your blog some time ago, and am filled with sadness, but hope for you both as a couple, that God will truly fill your life with healing. We serve a great Big God, who was able to form this world....keep trusting, keep your hope in the Lord and I will keep praying for you and Ben! Thank you so much for sharing this post....it really has touched me!x

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary!
I have not commented on your blog before now even though I have read it faithfully for over a year. Tonight, as I read your blog, it occurred to me that YOU, young lady, are going to develop into one of those amazing old women one of these days. I hope that makes you smile!! :) You know, the kind of woman that you always wonder how they got to be such a person of character and look so much like Jesus? Unfortunately, it takes going through some tough stuff but WOW, you are getting more beautiful by the minute.
May God bless you beyond what you can imagine!

Corrina said...

Congratulations on 4 yrs! I found your blog through your friend Lindsey and I enjoy following along. My dad had a massive stroke at age 47 that resulted in him being paralyzed on 1 side and in a wheelchair. It's been quite a ride for my family and it's been amazing to see my mom's commitment to him and how it really is a test of vows. You are amazing. I know how hard it can be and yet your love and commitment to Ben really shine. The Lord has many good things for you both!

Chelsea L said...

I just came across your blog, so Happy (belated) Anniversary! My husband and I just got married 2 months ago. Reading this post (it's the only one I've read so far) I was crying realizing how much I take hearing Matt say "I love you", for granted, makes me want to get off the computer and just hug him. (Which I will in a second). You are the definition of what we mean when we say our vows. For better For worse, In sickness and in health...I'll pray for you both and am looking forward to reading more of your posts.