Seven Months Married

He called me today at work to tell me how much he needed and appreciated me. I saw something on my face today and tried to wipe it off until I realized it was a crinkle wrinkle. The thought passed through my head that there are many things I am never going to do in my life--one of them becoming a superstar singer--but my daughter might. I've never thought much like that before. Maybe baby time is creeping up on me.
Caid and I have finally finished writing "Thank you" notes from all three weddings. Addresses unknown do not count. My name is officially Rachel Ferguson now--according to the government. Yes, these things took me seven months to accomplish. I do have excuses if you want to hear them.
This month we slid down the "knee injury" slope, almost to an end. The physical therapist was like "Get outta here--I don't know what to do with you--you are healing perfectly and better than anything I could do." YESSSSS.
I had an epiphany. I was feeling stressed and moody towards Caid one day, when the thought came, "If you are stressed and things are hard, it is a clue your spouse is probably feeling that too: time to give extra grace." Simple, yet hard-hitting.
I've been reading a lot: Books reading, and went barefoot for a week (check that off my bucket list) 7 days no shoes. Caid's reaction? ): "That is a great idea, honey—and I will support you 100%. With my shoes on."
This month was a hard one for my pride. Circumstances and people have shown me that I have some real rough patches and God has some big construction projects on my heart. I am a tally-keeper, when I need to be a let-it-goer. I am a projects over people-er. I am a get-er-done-r when I need to be training and delegating.
After seven months, I have come up with the "Caid and Rachel Argument Process"
1. Something happens
2. I blame him (in my head), he blames me (in his head)
3. It builds
4. It explodes
5. We take turns explaining our blaming
6. Anger happens
7. We remember (and say) we love the other
8. We sort it out (Why are we feeling hurt? why blaming? what responsibilities weren't done? what decisions/actions need to be made? What just needs to be let go of because ****happens?)
9. We remember the other person is an amazing person (They didn't set out to hurt me, they still love me, they are all I need/want)
10. We remember that after God, this is my most treasured, valued relationship and I will do whatever it takes to make it beautiful and growing

We get so tangled up in the day to day things so quickly. I constantly go back to a scene from "Modern Family" where the Real Estate Dad is staring as his blond wife and saying, "Sometimes I just forget that she is a person. An amazing person."
We got to go to a "Need to Breathe" concert (close enough to our month-a-versary for me to say) for our seven months together. I thought tickets were a little pricey so ended up buying them last minute from a crusty guy on a bicycle right before it started. Caid thought that was pretty great. And so we took a selfie.