So to continue the topic...
"Did you expect/consider to marry someone outside of yourNo, I never expected to marry someone outside of my race. I was in search of the right man whose values were similar to mine and who showed me the respect I deserved whether he was of a different race/background/religion.
race/background/religion, did you do so? If so, how has it been more
difficult/more interesting/etc.?" -- WB
If you are not already aware, I am Puerto Rican (with possibly a Sicilian touch) and my hubby is my mutt (Irish, Scottish, Jewish & German). The biggest difference between the Mister and I is that my family is much closer to each other and I don't just mean in vicinity even though that is true too. The Mister's family is all over the country with only his dad (who lives with us) and his one g'ma and aunt living in the same town. They really share no holidays together or have that closeness that I have with my entire family. What I am thankful for is that my hubby is a family person. He loves the idea of a big family and luckily was easily accepted as a part of my family the day they met him... Woohoo for me :)
Another difference we have is our background. I didn't grow up with money in my pocket but we weren't suffering either. We always had food, shelter and clothes on our back. My hubby on the other hand, grew up pretty poor. Lived in the projects, evicted from many places (he's moved around 29 times in his life) and even had times where he may have not had food on his plate. This I have to tell you is so hard to hear sometimes. There are other stories that I won't get into but I look at my hubby and is so thankful that he came out OK. Not sure how he came out sane but definitely thankful that he did. His experience has made him humble but he has made significant changes in his life to make sure he didn't fall into the same path. He is a strong man physically, mentally and spiritually making him the man he is today.
The last significant difference between us is our religion. I was a Catholic school girl all my life. When I was home, I'd go to church every Sunday with the fam. Really had no issues with the church and followed what I was taught. On the other hand, my hubby grew up religious but without the church background. He is not Catholic and doesn't approve of some of the aspects of this religion. He'd prefer to build his relationship with the Lord sans the brick & mortar building. He reads the bible everyday and prays himself to sleep. His issues with my religion do not bother me at all. We have talks every now and then but what we believe in is the same. We love the Lord and he has blessed us in many ways. We also believe we can build a relationship with the Lord on our terms.
In short, although we have many differences these differences actually bring us closer as a couple. It's what makes us different from other couples and I honestly would not have it any other way...
So what are your answers to the Bee's question?
Well, interesting question, in fact, I should do up a post about Mr. Encore and I. I was born in Miami but grew up in PR (Mayaguez, where are you from?) he's a good 'ol southern white boy from Mississippi. I never thought I would date let alone plan to marry someone like him. In fact, that's the main reason he chased me for almost 8 months! Luckily, we're both Christians and have very strong family values so half the battle has been won. We do have a few differences (obviously) but we have agreed to disagree on some and we will with the others. Our love and commitment is so strong that it makes it easy to embrace our differences. It really is...
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