14 Years

Fourteen years ago today I became Mrs. Wendy Clark. I was 21 and he was 27. We were babies! I had no idea what I was getting into and it has been so much better than I thought! I wish I knew how how to "wax poetically" as Pioneer Woman says, so I could explain how much I love Mark and what happiness he has brought me. He loves me and shows it everyday. He works so hard for us. He knows how important it is for me to be home with the kids and he will do whatever it takes to make that happen. I get tears in my eyes when I think of the father that he is. He is not a perfect parent, none of us are, but he loves our children and they love him. He disciplines them, he talks with them about important and non-important things, he plays with them, and he works with them. He provides traditions and memories for the children that will always be with them. They love for him to make up "Crazy Melvin" and other assorted stories. Sometimes I will find all of them piled on top of our bed and Mark making up some ridiculous story. The kids will be rolling.

He cares for his parents and lives out the command daily to honor them. There is always something to be done around here and he works hard to make this a good place for his parents.

Mark is my biggest homeschool supporter and I can not even tell you how much crying and whining he has patiently listened to. He always encourages me to keep going and to just enjoy the children. He can see the big picture when I can only see the tiny of little corner of my kitchen and my weakness.

Mark is many things to me, my husband, my best friend. We have had many silly and not-so-silly middle of the night talks, we have cried together, prayed together, and laughed together. He makes me laugh and laugh at myself. I had never been able to laugh at myself until I met Mark. Life is serious, but when you think about it, most of it just isn't. We are just a blink in the big picture and he helps me to see that. I love that we have things to laugh about that no one else knows about or would never think is funny. My favorite time of day is after the kids are in bed and it's just me and him and we can talk and laugh. The day we married, 14 years, 5 moves, 4 children, and 2 in-laws seemed very far away. I was young and dumb and didn't know a thing, except that with Mark beside me it had to be good. And it has been.