This is my first post of my new venture of writing a blog.  Peer pressure has gotten to me.  “Everybody is doing it.”  So here I am!

I hope to not be, “just another blog.”  I hope to offer some insight into a marriage of 13 years, that is getting better with age. 

Quick background:  I met my future hubby in the seventh grade.  Really, I did!  Slightly unusual story, but true.  We were best friends until the start of 10th grade, where it all changed.  One kiss and we never looked back.  We were voted “Most Likely to Get Married” in our senior yearbook.   Twenty two years later, here we are.  Very happily married with two kids and a life that most dream of.  I am blessed. 

But a happy marriage does not come easy.  I have learned to question the fairy tales I read as a little girl.  We all know they lived “happily ever after,”  but what about all the in-between.  Those fairy tales don’t mention the fights that Cinderella and the Prince had about money due to their different backgrounds.  They never mentioned how exhausted Snow White was after a day of caring for everyone but herself.  They never mentioned personality differences and annoying habits of your spouse.   How did they get to the elusive happy every after?

Here is what the fairy tales don’t say.  Happily ever after is hard.  Odds say, it’s damn near impossible!

But the saying, “hard work pays off,” is true in this case. I believe two willing partners who love each other, put their heart and soul into their marriage and make it priority can have the happy ever after. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am only 37 years old, today actually (that is the first time that I have had to write my new age.  Slightly terrifying).  I still have a ton of work to do to ensure that when I am 92 I am still “in love” with my sweetie.  But in the last year, my husband and I have put our all into our marriage and I have learned some fantastic tricks to fighting better, appreciating daily, accepting more and staying “in love” with my husband.  Who knows, maybe my tricks will help you too.

As I write this first post, I am sitting in a hotel room on the morning of my birthday.  A wonderful and slightly naughty gift to myself.  My husband and I checked in last night (and, let’s just say, had a good time 🙂 )  But, then he headed back home to relieve his dad from watching the kids and I stayed the night and am currently enjoying and entire morning to myself and revelling in the peace and quiet  (except for the room across  the hall that has the TV blaring.  I mean,  really? When I can sing along with the commercials, that is just too damn loud! ).   All that I have  had to worry about is what to do for breakfast and when to take my shower. 

Everybody should get time away for themselves.  Sure it is hard to find the time, costs a little money sometimes, and does not come without a little guilt.  But once you give in to it, it is sheer bliss!!!

Thank you to my sweet hubby for supporting me in having a morning away.  It is delicious.  Happy Birthday to Me!!!!

Tammy