A Good Place.

The other night as my husband and I were driving my car through the car wash, he leaned his head over and rested it on my shoulder. "I'm really happy with our marriage right now."

Sweet sentiment. But the analytical Martha I am, I said "Have you ever not been?"

Can't a girl just take a compliment and smile, keeping her mouth shut?!

But no fights ensued. Instead we discussed how, while we've always been happy, there have definitely been ups and downs. What marriage doesn't have them? Take two individuals with two different personalities, add in their personal stressors plus the combined ones, finances, kids, major decisions...it's HARD.

For thirteen years, we've been US. Eleven of those, we've shared the same last name. We've struggled through major medical crises of both of my parents, my grandparents, his grandmother and father, and the deaths of two grandparents. We've had two children, with one of whom we have daily health struggles. We've moved, we've started new careers, we've declared bankruptcy to help us stay afloat.

And we've reached a summit, one of many we will undoubtedly reach in our marriage, where we're both just in a good place. Our personal struggles are minimal, our combined struggles seem to be under control, we've managed to rescue ourselves from the depths of medical-bill hell, and things just feel good.

So we're rewarding ourselves. For the first time in eleven years, we're taking a trip that doesn't involve work or kids. The excitement is welling up inside of me. And we don't even have to wait very long...less than a month from now, we'll be on a plane headed towards the city of lights. It's just a three-day getaway, but we've earned it. Can you see my smile?