Last weekend, we helped style a fabulous wedding at a beautiful home in Pike Road, Alabama. It was all a bit hauntingly familiar for me, as the bride was my age, only a few days short of ten years ago.
Ten years ago today, on August 10th, Ashley Malone and Jamin Mills tied the knot…got hitched and took the plunge…into the deep end.
Face-smackingly first.
{Don’t we look like babies? That would be because we were.}
What we love about that day is {that just like everyone else} we really had no idea what we were getting into. We knew we loved each other…but were clueless as to what that capacity for love would be. In many ways, we still are.
In the words of Jamin, from the ceremony last week:
Marriage is something that should be entered into reverently, thoughtfully, and with an understanding of the implications of its sacred nature. Marriage is a combination of many aspects of each person; the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional. You are not committing to just one aspect of the other individual, but to the totality of the entire individual.
You are not only committing to those aspects as they are here in the present, but also to what they will grow into.
Sadly we live in a time where this seems to be over looked, many forgo their covenants in search of being happy. Today I counsel you to not be committed to the person who stands before you, because they will change. Be committed to the covenant of marriage.
Individuals might change, but covenants never do.
Marriage isn’t easy. I think we all know that. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns and butterflies. I load the dishwasher in weird ways. He leaves his clothes on the floor. I hate to clean the fridge. He won’t make the bed. Sometimes we can’t stand to be in the same room as each other. {Sometimes, we probably daydream about punching each other in the throat ;}} Dynamics change over time. But the summary of it all, in a real life metaphor smacked me in the face last year, when Emerson climbed into our bed late at night and had an accident:
When it comes down to it, I wouldn’t want to wake up covered in pee, next to anyone but Jamin Mills.
When we said our vows that day, we had no idea what we were committing to. What it would be like to experience the blessing of bringing children into the world and the partnership of parenthood. What it would be like to have those low moments and the highs. We’re still learning, and we’ll be the first to tell you that we have a long way to go. But we look forward to it.
So today, to celebrate, we just wanted to share a little happy. A quote from our own ceremony ten years ago + from one of my favorite books. At the time, I had no idea how much it would still apply to our relationship. Because despite the piles of laundry, dirty diapers and bodily fluid explosions… it only gets better with time.
These are a series of 3, 8 x 8 in any color. Just click on over to our downloads page, and look for the title “Perhaps” + color + number for your pick. We think these would be really fun in frames…or maybe even as favors at your own wedding…if your own love story is about to unfold. Why not? ;} To view all of our freebies, click here!
We hope you enjoy… and for any of our cohorts out there…CHEERS to you and wishing you many years of a beautiful covenant!
Emelyn says
Congratulations on 10 years! We celebrated our 12th this July. I completely relate to everything you said here. I really had no idea what I was getting into when we got married, but I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather deal with the ups and downs with than my hubby. Very well said..
Sorry to hear about the pee situation but that’s happened to me too! And it hasn’t just been pee.. TMI….
ashley @ the handmade home says
Congratulations, Emelyn! So sweet. And it’s never TMI for us! hahaha. Have an awesome weekend! ;}
Sarah in the Suburbs says
Happy anniversary! Wise words: “Individuals may change, but covenants do not.” Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a great day!
Tiffany says
Aw, happy anniversary! “Today I counsel you to not be committed to the person who stands before you, because they will change. Be committed to the covenant of marriage.” Brilliant.
Kathy Amrhein says
Thank you for the download! I’m going to use them in the area where our wedding photos and other family memories hang. Your wedding photo is BEAUTIFUL and yes you look young and in love. So are we..I was nearly 19 and George was almost 29 on our wedding day in June 30 years ago. He is my very best friend and has the most loving heart of any man I have ever know. Granted we have our moments just like anyone (it would get pretty b o r i n g if everything was always peaches and cream!) Sometimes he has a hard time showing how he feels it, but I’ve been with him long enough to know all the little signs and he ALWAYS treats me like a Queen. We took a couple years to get to know each other and those pesky (annoying) little quirks before our daughter came along and quickly that after a son. We’ve raised two beautiful children who have matured into responsible, caring adults. I feel they are our greatest contribution to the world, so far. Now we are back on our own and loving life! Best Wishes to you and yours for a long healthy, happy marriage! Kathy
ashley @ the handmade home says
Congratulations! That’s amazing. ;} Gotta love those quirks!
Kala Duncan says
Happy Anniversary!!! So excited for you guys and LOVE reading all your blogs đ Your sense of humor still makes me laugh as it did in the youth group many moons ago!!!!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Kala-you have no idea how much your sweet comment means! Many more happy years to you guys, as well! đ
Melanie says
LOVE THIS. Happy anniversary!! And that’s one of my favorite quotes, too! Brilliant to use at your wedding, thanks for the free printable!
Jessica @ Dear Emmeline says
Congrats on 10 years! You said it perfectly…you can not be commited solely to the person but to the covenant you made. Both of you will change and there will be times when the feelings associated with love just aren’t there. To weather these times you must be commited to the vows you made.
Denise Nelson says
Happy Anniversary to both of you! I hope you are having a wonderful week together. Just enjoy! See you next week. Love you both
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you, sweet Denise! ;}
Pam says
Happy Anniversary! Our 10th seems like yesterday! Alas, our 23rd is Sunday and we are also dropping off our youngest son at college!!! Empty Nest in 23 years!!!! #cry
ashley @ the handmade home says
Pam-I just added up our numbers, and we will be in the same boat! I can only imagine! ;}
Laura G. says
Ashley, what the heck – you just made me tear up!! Thank you for sharing these thoughts. I love what you just quoted Jamin as saying from the wedding last weekend. Beautiful thoughts. Marriage is taken for granted so much these days, and it’s refreshing to see a couple like y’all who know what’s “real”.
And I have been looking for something to hang above our master bed & these prints will be PERFECT! Thank you!
Happy Anniversary!!!
TracieMcOB says
Happy 10th Anniversary!
I am long past having little ones crawl into bed with me at night, my boys now being 18 & 21, but I have to tell you how much your post today touched my heart. Now single after so many years, your loving husband’s words about the covenant of marriage are so true. Hang on to that one! I passed them on to my older son, as he is courting a wonderful young woman. I hope he sees the beauty and wisdom in those words. Thank you so much for sharing your day with strangers that you touch.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Well Tracie, thank you for your sweet words. You made me cry! Blessings, much love, and hugs to you and your sweet family.
Anna@agoodhome says
Wow, Jamin’s words at that ceremony are so perfect! It’s definitely a commitment to marriage, not just the person in front of you. Hooray for being married to your best friend đ
Patty Page says
Very well said and thanks for the pretty printables! We celebrated 25 this year! And no, it’s not a fairytale marriage, but it is a commitment.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Congratulations! I’m blown away by 10…can’t imagine 25! ;}
Stephanie says
I really appreciate your words regarding marriage. I have similar feelings about my husband, and I laughed about what you said about not wanting to be covered in pee with anyone except Jamin. My husband and I celebrated our ten yr anniversary on June 29 and we were stuck in the airport in Amsterdam with three kids (6 1/2, 4, and 18 months) for 12 hours after missing our flight. I had brought along a card and wrote it in the airport… It said something like “we’ve had good times and bad, but when it comes down to it there’s no one I’d rather be stuck in this airport with.” I think that says it all!
Melinda says
Absolutely amazing message and so TRUE! Thank you for being so open and sharing your story. May God bless you and your family.
H McCall says
That was truly beautiful. Congratulations on 10 years!
{amy k} says
wonderful thoughts, thank you for sharing. such an important thing to remember that we are changing, but our covenants remain the same. lucky for me, i have an incredible man to stand by my side, even when my changes make even myself crazy!
Lesley says
Ashley, What Jamin said is absolutely true, it’s very similar to what our pastor said when he married my husband and I 13 years ago at the ages of 19 and 18 (we too were babies). He reminded us that we were going to be growing up with each other and changing throughout our marriage. (I always remembered that). Your humor is exactly what I love about you guys, we often feel like we could “punch each other in the throat!” When we were first married I couldn’t believe how my husband refused to put his laundry in the hamper. He had a horrible habit of always putting his clothes next to the bed and he still does. One day, years ago he was standing within one inch of the hamper and instead of dropping it in, he did a fade away jump shot with his shorts and made them land on his side of the bed which was about 15 ft across the room. I stood there in dis-belief. I still look back on that day and laugh but like you I much rather have that pile of dirty laundry next to my bed than nothing there at all. Through deaths in our families, illnesses, and other drama little petty things like clothes not getting in the hamper all seem to disappear. What’s important is that person standing next to you and I wouldn’t want to share it with anyone else but him. Thanks for this post and Congrats!
Lesley
Lori Lynn says
Well said. Celebrating 24 years this Fall and I especially like the part about at times you can’t stand to be in the same room but I can’t think of anyone else I’d want by my side in the good & bad.
Suzanne Shepherd says
Beautiful post today, Ashley. From my perspective of soon 40 years married (8/ 26/72 to 8/26/12), you have said it well. I wish you both many, many more wonderful years of handling life’s ups and downs together.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Wowsa. Congratulations to you!!! The longer we’re together, I realize it’s just honest to goodness hard work! And we all deserve medals! ha! ;} That’s so great…how awesome for you!
maureen says
Congratulations!!! This is a great day for anniversaries, as my Mom and Dad celebrated their 62nd today as well. Thanks for all your great ideas and thoughts on your blog.
Maureen
Rhonda says
Happy happy anniversary! Love your printable quotes (HUGE Anne of Avonlea fan!) and love seeing your pic from your wedding day. Best wishes for many more happy years!
Erin DeSantis says
Happy Anniversary! Thank you for sharing the beautiful memory and the printables. Wishing you many more years filled with love and happiness!
Joy @ Thrifty Parsonage Living says
Congratulations on you wedding anniversary! My husband and I share the same anniversary day. We celebrated 33 years this year đ A good marriage is truly a blessing!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Congratulations to you, Joy! ;} What an accomplishment!
Jen says
I’ve never commented on your blog before, but I have to here. I was married almost 8 years ago and good friends of ours read a quote from an “Anne” book as well. We were also married in the church where they filmed the wedding of Anne and Gilbert in the movie. Thanks for posting and congratulations on 10 years.l
ashley @ the handmade home says
Wow! How cool! Congratulations to you, as well! ;}
Erin says
A very Happy 10th Anniversary to you! That was some real wisdom that Jamin shared at the wedding. Don’t you all work with youth (am I remembering that correctly?) I’m so glad those young people have an example of a couple willing to uphold their marriage covenant. It’s so very important. God bless you both!
Amberjane says
I love Ann of Green Gables too – love these printables đ
Heidi says
I love everything you write. Seriously. Even though I’m a Californian-and much older (almost 48-ay yi yi) and Jewish-we would so get along if we met irl. Anyway-it’s almost 20 years of wedded bliss here. And I’m so far along I’m actually visualizing who my oldest (who’s 16.5 and so shy she never dates, but she’s gorgeous/so kind/brilliant) might marry. And I get the so young/so clueless thing-and I just love it. God knows. And I pray that she ends up with the hilarious, super kind, smart guy like I did.