All I Want For Christmas….

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Fionnuala and I celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary today. We have decided this year not to buy each other presents but instead are going later this afternoon as a family to the Christmas Market in Belfast. I’ll be blogging about that adventure later so stay tuned for photos of the Black family there. Probably eating. A lot.

Fionnuala loves to sing. I don’t particularly love to hear Fionnuala sing but that has never stopped her before. She also loves Christmas so the house has been rocking all month to her festive soundtracks. One of her party pieces is her variation of the Mariah Carey classic ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’. Fionnuala, instead belts out ‘All I Want For Christmas Is Glueeeeeeee’. I’m not quite sure what this means but, anyway, the kids find it hilarious.

Fionnuala is our glue. She has held this family together for many years. She has fixed broken relationships and hearts. It has been sticky and messy at times but she has persevered and overcome every adversity thrown her path. When I was broken she could have shovelled up the pieces and thrown me in the bin. Instead she held me together until I mended. She fixed me. She healed me.

She is the unsung hero of the family. She deserves so much yet asks for so little. She has a heart the size of Ireland and would fight to the death for her family. She would give her last penny to someone in need. Whereas I talk and write she acts. She gets stuff done by hook or by crook. She organises, budgets, schedules, never stops. She brings her A-game 24/7 even when she is tired or sick. She always puts others needs before her own.

She is kind, wise and beautiful. The latter on the outside but, more importantly, on the inside. She puts up with the insanity of being married to me. Without her there would be no me. She is my best friend and is always there for me. Even though I drive her insane on a daily basis. She often tells me that she wanted a husband and not a fourth child. She also says that the world doesn’t revolve around me. I know that now. For the kids and I are mere planets. She is our sun.

She provides the light, heat and energy that we need to survive. We orbit her and rely upon her. She is indefatigable, indestructible and invincible. She never gives up on us and is the driving force behind all the stories and messages on this blog. She is as perfectly simple as I am imperfectly complicated. She loves God and she loves her family and friends. She is my gravity, keeping me firmly rooted to the ground whenever I start to drift off on flights of fancy.

I can’t give you expensive presents this year, Fionnuala, but I can give you my thanks and my heart. You are my wife and my best friend. You are my everything. I love you. Happy anniversary.

Published by Fractured Faith Blog

We are Stephen and Fionnuala and this is our story. We live in Northern Ireland, have been married for 17 years and have three kids - Adam, Hannah and Rebecca. We hope that our story will inspire and encourage others. We have walked a rocky road yet here we are today, together and stronger than ever. We are far from perfect and our faith has been battered and bruised. But an untested faith is a pointless faith. Just as a fractured faith is better than none at all. We hope you enjoy the blog.

86 thoughts on “All I Want For Christmas….”

  7. You have found a virtuous woman and you have discovered that her prize is far above rubies. God bless you and your family. Thanks to your wife for being an example of the Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 woman. In a world where women are beginning to loose their place because of misplaced priorities, reading this is a breath of fresh air. Yes Stephen! She deserves to be praised in the gates. Continue to praise her openly. It takes a secure man to publicly draw attention to his wife in this manner. Well done you! I don’t like to see and hear about perfect marriages because I know those aren’t real. I like the perfectly imperfect ones who despite the challenges decide to fight for each other instead of fighting with each other. Happy anniversary guys! May God continue to bless and watch over your home!

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  8. A heartfelt congratulation to the entire family but especially to both of you for making the marriage a success. I think it is wonderful when a couple can love each other without having conditions attached and expecting it to be perfect. May you both continue to find much love and joy with each other.

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  15. Happy Anniversary! Your beautiful family, the love and joy in your eyes, the wonderful woman you have by your side…these are the most precious gifts, real blessings! Thank you for writing this beautiful post, it reminded me what happiness is made of 💛
    Be blessed with endless love, health, peace of heart, hope and light!

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  18. My heart melted. Who needs expensive presents when you have this much love in your life. Family warmth and togetherness is something money can not buy. You are a lucky man and she is lucky as well. WIshing you all a warm and happy Christmas. 🎄It seems as if Christmas has come early to your house 😉

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  26. Happy Anniversary! I could easily insert my wife Betsy’s name for Fionnuala, the description is spot on. God gives guys like you and me wives like this as further evidence of His grace. Blessings.
    Chuck

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  30. Happy Anniversary! You have a lovely family. May the love you share with your wife continue to shine for many more years. God’s blessings to all of you this Christmas season and for the New Year.

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  37. I love this! My husband and i are in our early 20’s going on 3.5 years of marriage. This is very encouraging to us! Thank you for sharing and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Your family shines the light of Christ so brightly in this seemingly dark world! Happy new gear

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