Part of a whole.

With MJB away so often for work these days, I am falling into a pattern of doing things my way, and on my own. I am scared that he'll get home for good and we'll have lost that connection that makes us the 2 parts of a whole. Like I'm going to be set in my ways, he'll be set in his, and we'll forget where the middle is. I spent the day cleaning and getting prettied up for MJB, I didn't want him to come home to a mess, I didn't want him to feel like all his hard work away from us, and away from our home was for nothing. Sadly though, he is not coming home tonight. I have to spend 2 more nights alone in bed without him, and I'm heartbroken.

What makes a marriage work, I believe there are 4 key factors. One, you must, have time to be yourself, and for your husband or wife to see you for who you were when you fell in love. That's why couples who have young kids have such a struggle, your "self" is lost for a while.

Two, appreciation for what each of you brings to the table, and the sacrifice you each make to provide it. In our house MJB is the bread winner working a stressful job, 5 days a week (lately more). I on the other hand, am the stay-at-home mom, with my own stresses and hardships, we each have what the other wants, and if the roles were reversed it would be the opposite. Just be aware of how it would feel if life were the other way around and appreciate the fact this is a life you are building together, each half as important as the other.

Three, money, the main reason couples fight. Talk about it weekly, make a budget, expect to blow it, but at least try to have a plan. We are not good with our money, so don't take my advice on finances, I'm just here to tell you that the more you talk about it the better, and if you are united and have the same goals money wise your relationship will not fail over it.

And four, keep life as simple as you can. The more complicated your life, the messier your schedule, the more of the little importances get lost along the way, and in my opinion those little things are the glue that keeps you together.