Moving

Well, it's time to head out. My wonderful brother has presented me with the gift of technology and I'll now be blogging at www.sarahoreilly.com. Yup, I am dot commed! How neat is that? So, please head on over there if you want to catch up with the goings on of the O'Reilly family. Should be good times! Hope to see you there!

9 years

Tomorrow, Noah and I will celebrate our ninth anniversary. 9 years. Wow. Seems like just yesterday I was being walked down the aisle, dad on one side, mom on the other, both whispering that it wasn't too late to turn back. At the tender age of 20, I didn't know much, but I knew I was headed down that aisle to my future. My love. My soul. I had no reservations, no second thoughts. Only thoughts of my love. My Noah. And I wouldn't turn back for anything. Now, looking back, I have only one thing I'd change. I would have charged down that aisle much sooner than we did.

Throughout our marriage Noah and I have experienced our share of heartache and then some. Many people took pity on us as we began our newly married life with tragedy. I only thought it was such a blessing to be married and able to help Noah through his difficult time. Through that time, and many others, we've held on tight. I am so thankful that we've used our hard times to draw closer together, and not apart. I am so glad that since day one, it's been us against the world. We've held hands and never looked back. For that I am truly grateful. But because most of our marriage has had such hardship, sometimes its easy to overlook all of the joy we've shared. I can remember our second Christmas together. We were preparing to move from our tiny 500 square foot duplex into our first home. We'd decided not to decorate for the holiday since we'd be moving in January. That was the practical decision. The grown up decision. The right decision. Still, the kid in me was a little sad. I didn't say anything, but my love picked up on it. One day close to Christmas I came home from work and arrived to a winter wonderland! Noah had purchased a Christmas tree and all the trimmings and had decked our halls! I will never forget that Christmas, sitting in our tiny place, together, boxes around the house and a full Christmas tree!

Noah is just like that. He's always quietly thinking of me and doing things that make my world so special. Each night still, he gets me a glass of water and grabs my toe sticking out of the bed before getting in himself. Those little actions remind me daily what sort of man I have, and I thank the Lord for him each night.

I remember for our anniversary 2 years ago, we headed down to Brown County for a long weekend. Knowing my love of photography, he brought along my gift. A new to me 35 mm camera and tons of film! While I love digital for its convenience, nothing beats the feel of a real camera in your hands. I took many pictures that weekend. Of Noah. Of what we saw. Of everything. He even told me he'd get my dark room up and running and we could develop them together. So thoughtful is my man!

One very special memory I have is actually a bittersweet one. 2 years ago this past June, Noah and I were in a terrible car accident. The firemen working the scene actually thought our F-350 pick up truck was a Gio Metro when they first pulled up, so mangled it was. That day is forever etched in my mind for a number of reasons. Seeing Noah lying on the ground like that will haunt me for a lifetime. But, several days after our accident, he caught me crying in the shower. I'd hurt my wrist very badly and it was so hard to wash my hair. I didn't complain, just quietly did the best I could night after night. With wounds of his own healing, Noah gently climbed into the shower with me and washed my hair. His tenderness overwhelmed me. I often compare my husband's love to that of Jesus' love for us. So much compassion, so much devotion, so much care. Never asking for anything in return, no strings attached. My husband is such a shining example of Christ's love for us.

And now that he's a father, his love for me only shows more. I am the first one he kisses when he comes home each night, even though there is usually a crawling baby boy headed his way wanting his "dada". And each day when I see him full of tenderness for his son, praying for guidance from the Lord as he raises him, and wanting to be the best father he can, I fall in love even more. I never thought I'd see my husband as a father, and each day it fills my heart even more. I am so happy that the Lord blessed me with a little Noah to raise up just like the big one. I hope he'll be half the man his father is. To me, Noah is perfect. To coin a phrase Sandy says often of her beloved, he isn't perfect, but he's perfect for me.

So now as we head into our ninth year of marriage. Grey hairs starting to emerge, and wrinkles around the corner, I am more in love with Noah than ever! This weekend we'll head to Cincinnati to visit the aquarium and see the parade of penguins. I cannot wait. We'll walk hand in hand, talking, laughing, and inside-joke making. Together, 2 kids very much in love, just like we were 9 years ago.