thankfulness

My husband and I have been married for 5 years, as of this past July. It seems strange. Not strange in a negative way, but mostly because we got hitched when I was at the tender age of 18. So young. Yet we knew exactly what we wanted - whether we waited another 1, 2, 10 years - we knew that we wanted to be together forever, so why wait.
For us marriage has been wonderful. We've pretty much grown up together. I cannot even list the ways that we have changed since we met - surely it ranges in the thousands - but we've stayed true to one thing... our love and friendship. We didn't plan many of the things that we've had to face (such is life), we started our family WAY earlier than we originally anticipated, but I can honestly say that it has ALL been good. We've had our fair share of disagreements, especially in the parenting department, and we have definitely learned that neither of us are anything close to perfect. But imperfections make it that much more beautiful, because it is real.
Everyday when my husband is at work I miss him. I still get excited when I know he is driving home to us- and it isn't just because now I get help with our little handfuls. He makes me laugh like nobody else. He teaches me how to be a better person. He knows how I like to talk through everything I'm feeling, but also that sometimes I just like to sit and stare. He respects me. He loves me without fail. He is exactly who God created for me.
I have a lot of friends who are having rough patches in their marriages right now. It breaks my heart. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to have to contemplate giving up on each other, but I can understand how it can happen. Love is a web of intricate baggage. Two people attempting to share a life together when there is so much individual past between the two. There is nothing easy about sharing your life with someone, in fact, it is one of the most constantly challenging things ever.
So as much as these stories of my friends' lives hurt my heart they make me thankful. So thankful for what is right in front of me everyday- My marriage, with its ups and downs and endless flaws.