The Silver Lining

One of the constants in my life for the last 13 years has been ongoing recognition of just how great my husband is. We've always had fun when we're supposed to do so, when things are going our way and times are good. I appreciate that but it is not out of the ordinary. What is remarkable is that when things haven't gone our way (like for the last 8 months), our relationship becomes stronger, not weaker.

In moments like this I always think of our first real hardship as a married couple, when I miscarried our first child. It was hands-down the worst night of my life to date, one of those experiences you can't truly understand unless you've gone through it. At 6 am when the doctor came in to tell us the baby was gone, he said something that has stuck with me ever since. He and his wife had gone through this and it had brought them closer together and he believed we should look for the same.

In the moment it seemed nice yet meaningless, one of those things people say to make you feel better when nothing really can. In the years since it has come to symbolize what I consider the true strength of our relationship. We both realize that there is nothing that we can't face and survive as long as we do it together.

Having Craig during the "for better" times is great and I appreciate all that we do. Having Craig during the "for worse" times is essential to my surviving them. That we seem to come through them all with a stronger marriage is the silver lining.