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I Still Do!

Happily Ever After

By Annettee Budzban

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

I had the same aspirations many women share, of getting married to the perfect man and living happily ever after.

On Valentine's Day in 1997, I started my journey toward a happily married life as I walked down the candlelit aisle toward my husband-to-be. As the festivities of the evening were winding down, my new husband and I sat in the dark sanctuary praying to God as we wondered where this new adventure would take us.

The first year of our married life was like that of most couples. We spent time getting acquainted with each other's living habits. We asked each other questions like, "What kind of toothpaste do you like?" and "What's your favorite brand of soap?" We thought we had it all figured out when we managed the disputes about who would sleep on the outside edge of the bed. But toward the end of that first year we started to face the biggest challenge of our wedding vows: "…in sickness and in health."

My health started to decline. At each doctor's visit my husband, Jeff, sat dutifully at my side, as we listened with hope to each report. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. We were in our third year of marriage and our hopes were dashed when my symptoms only continued to worsen. Our marriage was not turning out as we had envisioned it. We had expected fun and vacations. Not sickness and discouragement.
I was soon forced to quit my job as a nurse. Before long, I was unable to do any of the cleaning in our house and Jeff was forced to pick up the slack. He was doing the laundry, grocery shopping and cleaning. Our bank account continued to shrink as my condition worsened.

But through all our pain and suffering, we learned to turn to God. We found the strength to carry on as we prayed together each morning before getting out of bed, and each night before closing our eyes in sleep. When one of us had a bad day and frustration set in, we learned to be honest and open with each other and listen to each other, even if we didn't feel like it.

Our marriage hasn’t been as full of joy as we might have hoped, but God has a way of working all things out for our good if we obey Him. Jeff and I have truly found it a time to be thankful. God has given my husband and me a love, grace and understanding for each other that many married couples never experience. He has grown our marriage and our love far beyond its years. He has shown us that happiness is not living without trying circumstances, but finding life and joy within them.

We still pray that I will overcome my illness. But we won’t allow this situation to distract us from the truth that we are living happily ever after.

ANNETTEE BUDZBAN is a Christian author, speaker, life coach. She writes the syndicated newspaper column Inspirations. Her inspirational articles have been published in places such as: Guideposts, Standard, the Gem, Psychology For Living, Family Circle, The Gem, Chicken Soup for the Soul and many more. As a speaker she encourages others through her teleseminars, to move forward into their God-given destiny. Visit her Web site AnnetteeBudzban.com.