Happy Monday! Today you're in for a treat. We have Eric and Kelsey from Words of Williams sharing a glimpse of their marriage. It's fun to get answers from both of them to see their different perspectives. I haven't met Eric and Kelsey, but in our email exchange, I told them I feel like we're bound to run into them at Trader Joe's or the Farmer's Market one of these days. Des Moines is just like that! 

You may remember that Adam and I went through their Family Playbook at the beginning of the year (which reminds me, we need to revisit our goals!) I respect Eric and Kelsey and their desire to keep God the center of their marriage and raise Rooney (isn't she adorable!?) in a Godly home.

When did you get married?
Kelsey: Oct. 7, 2006. We were blessed with the most beautiful 75-degree fall day.

Eric: Whenever Kelsey says we got married (Just kidding: 10/7/06)

How long did you date before getting married?
Kelsey: Three and a half years. I told Eric I wanted to wait to get engaged til we had graduated college and landed jobs, but he didn't listen. It's OK, though; we accomplished all those things by the time we married.

Eric: about 3½ years

What was one of your biggest challenges the first few months of marriage?
Kelsey: The first few months were actually bliss for us. But that faded, and the hardest part of the first couple years was that we grew up so totally different in relation to money, and now we had to agree on how much to save and how much to spend. We didn't even know how to talk about money! We took a class at our church called Financial Peace University and it changed everything for us. It even solved a lot of our problems that I wouldn't have considered money-related issues.

Eric: It's been so long! Um, just learning how to live with one another. You don't really know someone until they sleep over… every night. Bedtime routines, morning routines, every meal together; it's quite different than living with a bunch of dudes you went to college with.

What was something you wish you’d known before the wedding?
Kelsey: That my words and actions have a huge affect on my spouse. I am the only person who God has created for intimacy with Eric. I have a lot of power to raise him up or put him down, and it's important to not take that power for granted. Just because you have a ring on your finger does not mean you can say whatever you want to your spouse (hurtful things). I want to speak in a way that encourages. A man would rather live alone and unloved than with someone who does not respect him.

Eric: How to be a spiritual leader for our family. I'd say I'm still working at it, but I certainly wasn't prepared for that right after we were married.

What have you learned since you’ve been married?
Kelsey: That I am terribly selfish, and forgiveness is absolutely necessary every single day.

Eric: Communication is far and away the most important thing in a marriage.

What's your secret to a happy marriage?
Kelsey: Go to bed at the same time and pray together (out loud) every single night. We also don't ever say the D word (divorce) – not even in a joking manner!

Eric: No secrets. That's the secret. We tell each other everything. As soon as you hold one little thing back from your spouse, it begins a slippery slope. We're open, honest, and it's built complete trust in one another.

What’s the best part about being married?
Kelsey: Getting to live together! We saved that benefit til after we were married and it is still one of my favorite things we get to do.

Eric: I get to live with my best friend. What was a big challenge in the beginning is now the best blessing. We get to live life together, and it's a lot of fun doing it with someone I love.

Want to share a peak into your marriage? We'd love to post it! Send us an email and we'll get it scheduled.