The Ides of March: A day on the Roman calendar that corresponds to March 15, notable for the Romans as a deadline for settling debts.

The middle of March, 2014. Michael and I are settling a matter of great importance, positioned much in the same way as when we stood and took our 2006 marriage vows, except the altar is his work space. I'd found him at his desk, discouraged. He had been out of work for almost 6 months and not a single nibble of interest. There would be no "Ides of March" settling of our debt. Time to pray. Time to settle the matter with God. 

"Lord, you've given my husband a wife, children and a home. Now I am asking that you provide employment so he can care for the things you've given him. Amen."

Prayer puts your marriage vows in motion. If we had known in 2006 what we would be facing in 2014, our vows would have sounded more like this, "Lord, give us Rich faith because we will face Poor circumstances, grow Healthy trust in us when we are Sick with worry, create for us a Better perspective in Worse times."

Weddings don't really prepare couples for family life ahead. If they did, the cake cutting would include toddlers being handed dessert to throw at the couple. The bride would offer the hem of her dress to those guests who were unwilling to locate a napkin. The master of ceremonies would announce that the newlyweds will be applying for government assistance in 8 years so be sure to save all that left over food. The bridesmaids would follow the bride into the restroom to peek under the stall, bang on the door and then drop the wedding band in the toilet. 

No, weddings do not prepare couples for the realities of family life. But the marriage vows exchanged during the ceremony absolutely cover the six things every couple can expect to encounter in their future; better, worse, rich, poor, sickness, health. The middle of March, 2014, our "marriage vows in motion" settled the matter. One day later, God finally gave Michael an opportunity to earn a paycheck. We would live week to week AND "weak to weak", but God would provide so that we could give a name to our hot mess of a business, "Arnim and Sons". 

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
2 Corinthians 12:9