LOVE CONQUERS ALL DAY

Our love story began unconventionally. She was finishing high school, a vibrant 17-year-old, and I was just starting my university journey. Things moved quickly, a whirlwind of young love and the weight of expectation. At 19 and 18, we found ourselves married, parents to a beautiful two-month-old daughter. We were both raised in conservative Christian homes, and marriage felt like the only path or at least the right path.

But the path wasn't paved with roses. Doubts and disapproval surrounded us. I remember my best man's words before the ceremony: "It's not too late, you can change your mind." It wasn't just him; it was a chorus of voices, a visible lack of faith in our young union. The truth is, for the first few years, "love" wasn't the defining word in our relationship. We were navigating responsibility, parenthood, and the immense pressure of defying expectations. We were married, but love, the deep, transformative kind, was still a seed waiting to sprout.  Truth is, we barely knew each other.

Life, as it often does, threw its fair share of curveballs. Years passed, filled with the joys and struggles of building a life together. We had four more children, many miscarriages which were emotional hurdles in and of themselves.  Like all couples we faced lots of challenges together over the nearly thirty years together.  

But amidst the challenges, something profound began to blossom growing more each and every year. The seed of love, planted in those early years, slowly broke through the surface. It wasn't the fiery passion of youth, but a deep, resilient, and unwavering love. It was a love forged in the fires of adversity, tempered by understanding, and strengthened by a shared commitment to overcome.  Don't get me wrong we started with that fiery passion for years and years and still to this day in many ways.  

Then just shy of thirty years into our marriage came the diagnoses. For me, it was Crohn's disease, a constant companion of pain and uncertainty. For Lisa, it was type 2 bipolar disorder, along with other mental health challenges. The statistics loomed over us: a staggering 90% divorce rate for couples where one partner has bipolar disorder. The road ahead looked daunting, perhaps even impossible.

We learned to communicate, to truly see each other, flaws and all. We learned to support each other through the darkest days, to celebrate the smallest victories, and to find strength in our shared journey. We discovered that love isn't just a feeling; it's a choice, a daily commitment to stand by each other, even when the odds are stacked against you.

Our story isn't a fairy tale. It's a testament to the power of perseverance, the resilience of the human spirit, and the unwavering belief that love, in its truest form, can indeed conquer all. We are living proof that even when the world doubts, even when statistics paint a grim picture, love can find a way. It can heal, it can endure, and it can transform two young people bound by circumstance into a couple deeply, profoundly, and eternally in love.