#valentinesday2016 + #beating50percent

Josh + I will unashamedly tell you we are not huge "celebraters." Birthday + Christmas gifts are usually last minute (if they are even bought), and there is really no such thing as Valentines Day or Anniversary gifts (maybe some flowers, though!) 

A normal "celebration" usually includes something simple like dinner (when we have a gift card), a rented movie, and whiskey + (sprite (for me) coke (for Josh) on our couch (because we like the dinner bill better sans alcoholic beverages!)

At times I've felt a bit guilty that we aren't "that couple" that goes "all out" and comes up with romantic + clever things to do. Maybe we'll always be like this, or maybe it's just for a season. Who knows! What I do know is that accepting + being content with who you are is more important that wishing for something different or better. 

I've just recently become completely okay with who we are as "celebraters." Gift giving isn't either of our love languages, therefore we don't place a ton of emphasis on it. What we do place emphasis on is what truly lights us up and makes us feel loved: Cuddling on the couch, doing the dishes, lots of kissing, time with one another, movie dates, praying together, marriage meetings, and encouraging one another in any and all of our pursuits. Those are the things that we are good at, and the things that will allow our marriage to grow stronger.

This Valentines Day, I was inspired by Audrey + Jeremy Roloff (yes, think Jeremy, the son from "Little People, Big World), who launched a blog called Beating 50 Percent. I've followed Audrey and her blog for quite some time, and have always enjoyed reading about her passion and commitment to bettering her marriage and encouraging others to do the same. These two are not about to settle for an "average" or "common" marriage. Their mission for Beating 50 Percent is this:

"Mission: To inspire covenant marriages to beat average, to encourage husbands and wives to give more than 50% to their spouses, and to revive marriages that are indispensable - marked by fixing instead of throwing away."

Marriage isn't just a feeling, it's something you do. An everyday, purposeful, intentional, pursuit to put someone before yourself and love them. Love is a verb, not a noun. Marriage is work, not automatic. And don't get me wrong, it's the most fun, amazing, rewarding, fulfilling, loving, important work you will do...but it is work. It is an everyday, every hour, every minute decision to love someone.

Often times people say marriage is a "compromise," or a "balance" between two people.

I disagree.

Marriage is a 100%, all in, for life, equal covenant between two people. When I married Josh I new that I wanted to strive to love him like Jesus, just as I trusted he would do for me. There is no "meet you half way," but instead two people, beating the average, and striving for 100% from both sides. Just as Jesus loves us 100%, all the time. This type of marriage is what I (and Josh) want to pursue all the days of our lives as husband + wife.

Happy Valentines Day, dear friends. I hope you celebrated in your own special way (whatever your relationship status) with your favorite sweet indulgence, flowers, or a totally acceptable viewing of The Notebook. What did we do? Well per usual, we dined out and ended up at the ever romantic Buffalo Wild Wings. We originally were going to go to Red Lobster with our gift card in tow (thanks mom!), but when there was a 45 minute wait at 8 pm, we said heck no to that! We like Saginaw, we really do, but the "chain restaurant" abundance is just off the charts. And I guess here's to learning that we may just plan on dinner out the day before or after Valentines day next year...
We came back to our cozy couch to snuggle and watch a movie with drinks in hand. Cheers to #beating50percent!