One Year.... and We're Off And Running!

[E]: WE MADE IT!!!!

Yes we did folks ;), we made it through our FIRST year of marriage! Please pardon the back-dated posting, but I wanted it to recall the exact date of "I Do's" we shared. WOW, this has been one amazing and crazy year, let us look back on the year, shall we?

In June last year we said "I Do", and really meant it ;), then the beginning of July we flew to Hawaii for a week for our Honeymoon. Oh BTW -Mom and Dad, we happened to run into a couple there at the airport IN Hawaii that remember you from Beaches Chapel and asked me to pass along their "Hello's"... What WERE their names??? I'll have to look in an old church directory to tell you, sorry :(. A honeymoon in Hawaii people, is just about THE BEST experience ever! The HM pics are tagged bellow to see those, as are the Wedding photos.

Following our return to Cali, shortly after I had gotten all my life's possessions, aka - mostly junk and crap, moved into Joe's apartment, our Real Estate agent and church friend out here pulled a miracle and helped us locate and purchase the most wonderful condo I have ever seen (at the end of October). During the condo hunt, we had a slight bump in the marriage adventure, but it was overcome swiftly and life moved on and into our new home! To this day we are changing and tweaking things around the home to our taste, and it has been so much fun. I cannot wait for our families to be able to come out to our home to visit us now. If you would like to see those pics, they are also posted below (I recommend right-click and open in new tab or new window).

Looking back, I realize I've done more traveling in this past year than I have in my entire life thus far. I have moved twice in CA to two different cities. We have flown back to FL on several occasions (including a college graduation and a wedding in one visit). We have stopped at a DQ on route 66 in AZ to get ice cream, and driven to the Grand Canyon for our crazy Anniversary weekend trip ;). We drove to Las Vegas, NV for Labor day last September and had a ton of fun walking the strip and paid $30 for amazing massages. On our way home from Vegas we drove through/ past Hoover Dam (when it was over 100 degrees outside, so we never left the car). I'm sure this second year will include many more surprises and crazy travel plans as well. Here's to hoping anyway ;).

SO what have I personally learned in One year of marriage?

I have learned that loving does not have to include "liking". It is a daily choice to love the person you have committed the rest of your life to, even if you're upset and do not necessarily "like" them at the moment.

I have learned that forgiveness is key to one's marriage, and that no matter what, you NEVER EVER go to bed angry with one another.

I have learned that praying together before going to bed and occasionally reading together at night, can make for a much more pleasant morning.

I have learned that when you are (how to say this delicately?) ready for "a roll in the hay", it doesn't mean your partner is/ or was also thinking about it when you were (even though it is most helpful when they are). To add to that, it's not ONLY men who can think about it every 60 seconds throughout the day, I'll admit that for us women who know what I mean.

I have learned that as nice at it would be to live up to the Proverbs 31:10-31 Woman, I have learned to be content with me the way I am (besides, I AM the person my husband fell in love with, why should we change who we are?). Though all that cool stuff she does, maybe she could teach me a little more HOW she does it all so nicely?

I have learned that you NEED to live by 1Corinthians 13:4-8, and Ephesians 5:25-33 isn't such a bad one to follow either ;).

Most of all: I have learned that no matter what stupid things have happened in my past, that my husband knows full well what each and every one of those things are, has forgiven me, and loves me anyway. That ladies and gents is the most amazing thing in the world to me, and is MY visible expression of Christ's invisible and undying love for me.

I LOVE YOU Joe, with all I am and everything I have.
<3 you Forever and Always Sweetheart <3