8 Exciting Years!

Last week Collin and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary.  This was not quite as exciting as our first anniversary we spent in Germany when we stayed at a castle for our 5th.  However, we did have a wonderful day.  Collin had to work but he took me to one of our favorite restaurants called the Kartoffel in Ladenburg.  We both ordered steak which is seasoned and placed on a hot stone.  Individually you cook it to the doneness you desire.  Their steak is very good, hormone free, and imported all the way from Argentina, which is kind of strange since Germans are big on growing their own produce as well as having their own livestock.  Anyway, it was delicious.  Kartoffel means potato in German.  And the potatoes you get at Die Kartoffel are some of the best we've ever had.

This year we gave each other Polish Pottery since pottery is one of the traditional gift ideas and we do this every year.  We now have two serving pottery dishes.  We used them early for Christmas.

Here's our 8 tips to a great marriage:

1. Be friends, be best friends if possible, if not best, be at least very good friends.

2. Always be honest with one another.

3. Learn to forgive.  Neither person in a relationship is perfect.  We all have faults and they will come out.

4. Have fun together.  If you enjoy traveling, make it a goal to see something new every year.

5. Eat together.  It's amazing how many families don't eat together on a regular basis.  I think this has really helped us.

6. Support one another and cheer each other on.

7. Be kind to each other.  Belittling and making fun of someone is not cool. 

8. Put God first in your marriage.  If you are both on the path to doing God's will, you will have a much more fulfilling life together.

Collin, I am truly thankful to God for bringing you into my life.  You are my best friend, a terrific Dad to Caden, and the love of my life.  I look forward to many more years together.

Love you always,

Marisa