Third

Three years ago today...

 I married this amazing man.

 I kind of adore him.

It was a beautiful day. 

Simple. Sweet. Just my style.

We laughed. We cried. We ate good food. 

 

Our dads. Negotiating the Dowry...or something.

 And at the end of the day, I was married to the man of my dreams.

He's pretty much stuck with me now.

See? It's legal. I'm almost positive.

Now that we've been married three years, we know each others' quirks, we've developed traditions as a couple and as a family. Things just feel out of balance, when the other is not around. And in spite of deployments and things that can sometimes get in the way, I am happier than I've ever been.

I'm so proud of Richard's many accomplishments, and how hard he works for our family. I am amazed at the sacrifices he makes, and his ability to keep going in situations when I know I would just sit on the floor and cry. I'm touched by his love for our sons, and I adore the soft side they bring out in him. 

He is my hero, my best friend, my confidante, my heart.

I'm sad that we cannot be together to celebrate today, this is our first anniversary apart. But I know we will be reunited shortly, and that will be the best belated anniversary gift I could receive.

Here's to Year Four!

"Mawage, the Bwessed Awangement"

I love weddings. Before I got married, they were a fun, beautiful party. Now that I have made vows to my own husband, weddings are still a fun, beautiful party, yet they hold so much more meaning. I think my favorite part is watching the bride and groom as they recite their vows, watching the facial expressions they make, and listening to the emotion in their voices as they promise their lives to one another. Every wedding is unique and so wonderful, and each an expression of that couple's style and relationship.

Last night I went to a wedding that was very special, as my family and I are good friends with both the bride and groom (and their families). It was great seeing a lot of people that I haven't been able to visit with in a long time. And you can bet I brought along my "brag book" full of pictures of the boys to show off to anyone who so much as asked how they are doing!

Like I said earlier, my favorite part is the exchanging of the vows. It always reminds me of the promises Richard and I made to each other, almost three years ago. Plus, I know what is on the other side now; I know what lies beyond the wedding day and all the wedding hoopla. While weddings are great, it's just one day that goes by way too fast. As wonderful as they can be, they don't compare to all the awesomeness that follows the wedding: living together as husband and wife, holidays with one another, babies!, watching movies together on Friday nights, brushing your teeth together before you go to bed...every day minutiae, like working in the yard together, kissing goodbye before work, asking your husband (like, a million times) if he can take out the garbage. All of these things, big and small, they make up a marriage, a life together. 


It's a beautiful thing, getting to spend every day with your best friend, for the rest of your life. That's what is important, and that is what each bride and groom have to look forward to. Sharing every high and low together and building a life and a family. Sometimes I catch myself looking back on my wedding day, and thinking maybe I would have done different flowers or had a different hairstyle, but then I stop myself, because honestly, it doesn't matter what I was wearing, where we got married, or what color the flowers were. Now that I have experienced what comes after the wedding, I see that that was just the beginning. I get to live the great stuff every day, and I look forward to fifty-plus more years of it.