Saturday, May 2, 2009

4 Years!

When I first met my husband, I was really sick. I felt like I was drowning. Doctors were having difficulty diagnosing my illness, I weighed only 90 lbs, and I was literally wasting away. I had the thought, though, that I would find someone who would save me from 'drowning' and love and support me through the pain. Without sounding too contrived or cheesy, Benjamin is that person. When we first started dating, I was scared to tell him I was really sick. But when I finally got up the courage to tell him the details of what I was dealing with, his immediate response was "Well then I'll take care of you." This week was our 4 year anniversary! Yeah! I don't want to gush too much (it embarrasses him) but I feel like he deserves lots of applause!

Our early years of marriage have been far from normal. Benjamin has spent most of his 20's as my caretaker. I’ve always been a very independent person so it hasn’t been easy for me, but I am so grateful for him. When I’ve questioned my worth or when others sometimes would look at me with misunderstanding, Benjamin has reassured me and told me I was amazing. He is unfailingly supportive. He's sacrificed so much for me and for our marriage. He's given up awesome well paying jobs that he loves, to go work retail with a Master's degree, so that we can have good health benefits. He works long hours to support our family. He put his schooling on hold and moved with me to a place where I could get better care. He is the most loving, selfless, patient, hard working, and amazing person I know. I feel blessed he chose to marry me!

Let me share a quote that has helped strengthen both me and Benjamin. Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God..."(quoted in Improvement Era Mar. 1966, 211).

10 comments:

Devin, Abby, and Grady said...

We love you Benjamin! Thank you for taking care of my sister... we are so lucky to have you in our family. And Em... you are amazing. I love you.

Mrs. B said...

This post is so sweet! Ben is amazing (and so are you, Em!)

chel wakley said...

You have a great husband. And he is lucky to have you.

Marble Madness said...

I think that Benjamin is the perfect match for you! You two go together so well. I'm so glad things have worked out for you and that you won't be too far away for visitors! Love ya!

Rina said...

Congrats on 4 years, Em and Ben! Emily you really are amazing. I'm glad you have a husband whose priorities are in line and takes care of you! We miss you two.

Tina said...

Benjamin is such a selfless, caring, person. We are so blessed to have him in our family. You found a good one, Em!

Sara said...

Em, you did find a good one and you two are the perfect match. I admire you and glad to call you a dear friend. Good luck in your next chapter! :)

Lindsey Sharp said...

we love you both so much! benjamin has set such a great example to us on sacrifice and true love! thank you for taking such good care of emily! Emily we love you so much!!!

Brittany said...

I love anniversaries so we can reflect on our love for one another. You guys are amazing people and I am so grateful to know you. You two are great together and I can always tell how happy you are to be with one another no matter what. :)

heidijogoody said...

What a great husband! It truely shows that he has true love and commitment to you that is great