Marriage Vows and New Parent Vows

As we just celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary, our 4th as parents, I am looking back on the promises we made to each other on February 8th, 2014.

Six years ago, I said these vows

In the Bible, it says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Kamee June Photography

If all this is true, then I have a lot to learn about love. Love is patient? But what about when I'm really, really hungry? Love does't envy? But I'm a jealous troll? Love doesn't boast? But my entire social media existence is essentially a dedicated brag-a-thon about all the great things you do. Love isn't proud, rude, self-seeking or easily angered and love doesn't keep a record of wrongs? But what about when I'm obviously right about something and I have to do a victory dance and rub it in your face? Is that not "rejoicing in truth?"

I may have a lot to learn about love, but I can say with 100% certainty that I know how to love you.

Because the truth is - you're easy to love. You perpetuate joy, and spread it all around. Being with you is like being tickled - people can't help but laugh - even if they don't want to. You're easy to love - I just got lucky that you found a way to love me back. You're a force of light. You brighten my everyday. And I love that about you. You make my life better. You make ME better.

I can't wait to make tiny humans with you. I can't wait to look at our children's faces for the first time and see you in them - I hope they have your smile. I can't wait to see what you're like as a Daddy. I even think you'll change diapers when the time comes. (And I just said that in front of all these people, so now you kinda have to).

People give a lot of advice to young couples before their wedding day, and, naturally, being me, the ever-inquisitive girl that I am, I had my doubts about some of the advice I received. And I've come to a few honest conclusions about myself and what I'm capable of. But, like I said, I know how to love you. So I think a found a way to make them all work. 

Kamee June Photography

Kyle, for today and for the rest of our forever, here are my vows to you:

I can't promise to always shave my legs, but I vow to help you shave yours to help cut time off your 40 yard dash.

I can't promise to be slow to anger when you buy an electric guitar for no apparent reason, but I vow to be quick to forgive and help you start a band.

I can't promise to never "lose the spice," but I vow to get a search team, a Bloodhound, and Sherlock Holmes to help us find it again.

I can't promise to always get along with your family, but I vow that from this day forward - I will love them as MY family.

I can't promise to never make fun of you when you ask things like "Do babies blink?" but I vow to always respect and honor you.

I can't promise to never go to bed angry, but I vow to always wake up happy as long as I'm waking up next to you.

And lastly, I can't promise that I won't make mistakes in our love, I can't promise to always practice things like patience and kindness, but I vow to always protect our love, to always hope and persevere, and to never let our love fail.

“Someday, if you do it right, your children will grow up and leave you. And, hopefully, if you do it right, your partner won’t.”  

As a parent, I have a few to add to the originals:

 I can’t promise that I won’t walk in the door from work and immediately want to run to our kids, but I vow to get a kiss from you first. 

I can’t promise to never say “no” when you’re feeling in the mood and I’m not, but I vow to make it up to you within 3-5 business days. 

I can’t promise that our children’s pedestals won’t be sky high, but I vow that yours will always be at least an inch taller. 

I can’t promise not to rage against the machine when you don’t/won’t fold the laundry, but I vow to be down to help you get the sheets dirty in the first place. 

I can’t promise that I won’t hide Amazon Prime packages when they show up (everyday), but I vow that thanks to 2-day shipping you will never be without toilet paper under my watch. 

 I can’t promise that my boobs are ever gonna look like they did on the day you married me, but I vow to see a great doctor after we’re done reproducing to see if there’s something that can be done about that. 

I can’t promise that I won’t be a psycho when it comes to how we parent our kid/s, but I vow to always let you play “good cop” because it’s clearly your strength and you look phenomenal in uniform. 

I can’t promise not to kick you and stab you with my toenails when our baby wakes up in the middle of the night and say "your turn," but I vow to keep your side of the bed warm until you get back. 

I can't promise not to watch you sleep picturing your slow death when I'm awake feeding a newborn in middle of the night, but I vow that for every single time I do that, there will be two more times that I look at your sleeping face and thank God for you. 

I love you, Kyle. I am so lucky to have you as my husband, and as my baby daddy. You're the best decision I've ever made.

Kamee June Photography

Kamee June Photography