Marriage Miracles

~ drafted June 14, 2024 but never published ~

Last night at dinner, Gabe pulled out his phone and said, "Okay, I have a few things to talk to you about, if that's okay?"

I nodded. "Go for it."

Gabe proceeded to give a rundown of where he is in the process of all the house-buying minutiae: when our internet here will end and start at the new house, when our power will end here and start at the new house, when we can turn on water at the new house, which security systems he's looked into and what their costs and processes are, how the pest control works, the fact that he's confirmed the date and time of the movers, the fact that he's on top of getting our trashcans.

"You don't need to do anything about this," he said, peering at me over his glasses. "I'm just keeping you in the loop. What?" He smiled hesitantly at whatever look was on my face.

"I'm just...kind of in awe," I said. I grinned. "Can you imagine twenty-two-year-old you doing this? He would've probably looked at the note in your phone and cried."

Gabe laughed, "Yeah, that's true." He glanced back at his phone to continue.

"No, seriously," I said. "This is WILD."

When we first got married, Gabe couldn't even remember to pay the power bill. He couldn't do homework and go to church and hang out with me in the same day. Now he takes ALL of the initiative, does ALL the research, handles ALL of the scary administrative stuff, and all he asks of me is to pay attention when he updates me over some dinners. And even that is for my benefit: he just doesn't want there to be any unpleasant surprises for me or for me to worry about anything.

I have a lot of life goals, but if my number one accomplishment in the end is being a good wife to Gabe, I will be honored. I will feel like my life was well-spent. He's obviously not perfect and there are days when Cassidy gets an earful, but I see God working through Gabe every day. Gabe leads from a place of love. He empowers me and I am comfortable submitting to him.

I don't think this post has a point except to brag on my husband and maybe to encourage people who are worried that they or their partner can't make it XD It can get better—not magically and not overnight, but it can get better.

As I type this, Gabe is in the kitchen making dinner after spending an hour and a half making cupcakes from scratch for a birthday party tomorrow.

If you'd had a backstage pass to the early days of our marriage, you'd believe in miracles right along with me.

~Stephanie