Broken Symbols

While putting something away tonight in our cabinet, I accidently broke one of our crystal glasses from Shannon, Ireland. The glasses are cheap. But the worth I had placed on them was very high. I think, partially because of their namesake, I had placed value on them as a symbol of Shannon's and my marriage. They were given to us as a wedding gift. To see it break so quickly and be so completely unfixable gave me quite a start. Although I held my emotions together, I really wanted to cry.

After vacuuming up the tiny shards and throwing the larger pieces in the trash, I told Shannon why the breaking had bothered me so. She said, "Our marriage is not so fragile." It really put me in check and lifted my spirits. I remembered God, that it is He who has bound us forever as one together in flesh and spirit. I'm not usually one to put a lot of value on earthly things. And I'm also not generally a sentimental person. I think this served as a testament to myself that I 1) really cherish my relationship with Shannon and 2) struggle with understanding it; it is for this reason that I might feel that the breaking of a glass held meaning for our relationship. On the contrary, the breaking of the glass, beyond having no effect, has bolstered my faith in God and turned my eyes to Him for strength and guidance even more. Praise Him with us. ~Michael

PS - we've been really busy lately, but here's a snapshot of the last 9 days of our life.
Sunday the 2nd: climbed Cyuamaca Peak (6 miles roundtrip); we trudged through snow for about 1/2 a mile; Michael discovered his bride is even more hardcore than he previously thought (more to come in another post by Shannon).
Monday thru Friday: Work as usual
Saturday the 8th: We went on a date at the Marine Room in La Jolla. By far the most expensive date ever! But worth every penny. The atmosphere was great with the ocean crashing against the windows and a live band. Shannon wore one of her new dresses and has never looked better. I was so amazed by her. I was singing her praises.
Sunday the 9th: We went to Disney's California Adventure with Shannon's mother and her boyfriend. We had a great time. But don't spend much time waiting on Monster's Inc. It's just another Peter Pan or Alice in Wonderland ride. We spent an hour in line and were sorely disappointed. I think that the park will be a really great attraction in another 10 years. It's still in development from what I can tell and Disney has some great thinkers, no matter what my friend Erik says ;)