By Kristen Mudrack

As my husband and I were preparing for our wedding, we made the decision that we would focus more on the marriage than the wedding.  We wanted it to be nice, yes, but it was more important to us that we start off married life on the right foot.

So we read books and blogs.  We talked to pastors and friends.  We watched others around us who were married (both happily and not).  We talked about everything under the sun – things that we were comfortable with and things that we were not.

Everyone said that the first year was hard.  Everyone said that it was going to be tough.  Everyone said that we’d fight more than we did when we were engaged, that we’d need to find ways to do our own thing and not smother the other person.  Everyone made the first year of marriage out to be the worst thing ever.

But I didn’t feel that way.  Sure, we had our moments of eye-rolling and frustration with each other’s habits.  We had to figure out how to budget differently.  We had to figure out how live together.

But honestly, I like living together.  I like having someone to come home to.  I like having someone to cook with and watch TV with.  I like having someone to serve God with.  I like having someone to love.

The first year of marriage wasn’t a chore.  It wasn’t hard work.  It came easily to us because we took the time to work through some things when we were engaged.  We talk about things now, when they come up.  We don’t just let things fester.  We take every chance we get to be together – and we miss each other when we’re gone, even if it’s only for an hour.

Yes, much has changed.  But it’s changed in a good way.  Being married has made me realize more of what it means to serve someone else, to put someone else before yourself.  Being married has made me realize again how flawed and broken I am, and has made me infinitely grateful that someone would be willing to walk into my mess.

Being married has made me appreciate the little things – when he makes my tea in the morning or warms up the car before work.  It’s made me appreciate the big things too – the way he can handle a disaster (like our apartment flooding) with patience and grace, the way he can make me smile, the ways in which we can serve God together.

Cody makes me a better person.  He makes me a better friend.  He challenges me, encourages me, loves me, frustrates me, and makes me laugh.  We have fun together, we work together, we serve together.  I know it’s cliche, but he’s my better half, my best friend.  I thank God every day that He has given me the person I needed to walk through life with.  He complements me and I complement him, which is one of the things that makes us works so well together.

I’m sure there will be challenges ahead.  That’s life.  But I’m looking forward to what God has for us in the coming years, and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve God together.