MICHELLE: This is — officially — our first blog post on what is sure to be one of the most daring and fun and vulnerable adventures we’ve embarked on together: Starting an online business together.

CHRIS: I’m ready.

MICHELLE: Me too. I’m excited. My marriage has always been foundational for me. When we’re not doing “well” — I’m not doing well. My business suffers, my mood suffers… everything. And we were at our best as a couple when we were co-leading a marriage ministry helping other couples “make marriage work.”
CHRIS: That’s right. I love my wife.

MICHELLE: Now, he’s trying to be funny. He’s got a dry sense of humor that you’ll come to love. My mom wrote me an email this morning… all about marriage… when we shared with her our plans for this blog. Her words were these:

I LOVE IT SO MUCH…..especially because NO marriage is bullet proof.
Hate, love..
can’t stomach…love again…
no respect…huge respect…
ebbs and flows….up and downs…
kids and then NO kids….young then old….

Marriage is a roller coaster ride, really. I guess.

CHRIS: That’s right. The minute you think you’re marriage is bullet-proof in any way, is the minute your marriage is in the most trouble. This is the concept that I think is most important / most true about marriage. NO marriage is too good, too strong, too solid. There’s no relationship like it really… 2 people from totally different backgrounds coming together to “do” all parts of life together…. as one. It takes a real earnest commitment.

MICHELLE: Yeah. I love my Mom’s point, though about how quickly you can go from having a marriage that you love to being down on your spouse and wanting a divorce. This is “normal” I think… if anything about any marriage can be defined as normal. Emotions (love, hate, resentment, pride, frustration) are fickle. They can change with the wind.

CHRIS: So, what’s the point?

MICHELLE: The point is just to help marriages — including our own — reach their potential…

CHRIS: Me too. I hope everyone enjoys our blogs… we don’t have a perfect marriage, and we’ll never have a perfect marriage. But we’re passionate about it and look forward to connecting with other couples of all walks of life who feel the same.

MICHELLE: So I guess that’s that, then? We’re officially co-owners, co-bloggers?

CHRIS: Alright. Going to get this oil changed…

And so it begins.