The Beginning

"Let's start at the very beginning,
It's a very good place to start..."
Sorry distracted by the Sound of Music.

My marriage at times has been just like most normal marriages, ups and downs, good and bad, happy and well, not so happy.  So you are thinking, "Why rock the boat", "If it ain't broke...".  Well here's the thing...we have survived several crises in our marriage...if we had another one, I don't know if we are strong enough to weather it.

That scares me. I don't mean just a little shiver...I mean bone-deep terrifying.

So I have begun to help out the self-help industry and study...what makes a great marriage?

Is it love, trust, respect, communication, sex, humor? I was overwhelmed by the lists of ingredients for a happy marriage.

My husband and I love each other (although sometimes I am not sure if we like each other).  We have common goals (or at least I think we do). 

The thing is we don't communicate well (sometimes we feel more like roommates with kids), I am not sure that I am showing him respect, and the list goes on and on.  Kinda makes a girl feel like she may not be doing much right.

So, I came up with my own ingredient list and the number one thing on the list of having a great marriage is:

1. Care about whether or not your marriage is great.

Phew...I am so there.  (Sometimes you have to start where you are:))

I do care about whether my marriage is great or mediocre. I care if my husband and I are having the best marriage we can have. I care about my children continuing to have parents who can weather any storm and provide an example of what married life should be.

So, check, I have completed the first item on the agenda...NOW WHAT?

Google, of course. I began to google being a good wife...don't laugh at me.  Some things just don't always come naturally and when you are on a limited budget, google is a girl's best friend.  The problem is I had to weed through the bad with the good.  I began to read blogs.  Uh...had no idea how addicting that can be...and so, a blog is born.  What a great way to be real and get your thoughts in order. This is to be a way for me to watch my progress towards a phenomenal life. Maybe I can help someone else along the way. Maybe not.

But the mountain sure does look big and beautiful from the beginning of the trail.