Today is our fifth wedding anniversary. Half a decade. Longer than it takes to graduate from college. Longer than a presidential term.
But we’re just getting started.
In some ways, I can remember it like it was yesterday. After our rehearsal dinner, things must have been hectic because we got in separate cars to go separate ways. He called my phone and as soon as I answered, I was met with, “Babe, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” I melted. I can remember where I was standing and exactly how I felt at that moment. He’s not one to be over-the-top romantic {I would probably just laugh at him if he was} but those words were some of the best I’ve ever heard. I can remember slipping into my dress with my girls all around me. I can hear the wedding coordinator telling Dad and I that it was our turn… the doors to the church opening and walking down the aisle with Dad. I can remember our first dance as Mr. and Mrs. and how he didn’t spin me when I wanted him to. {Ask him about that story; he tells it on the reg.} I remember Rocky Top starting the party and then dancing the next 3 hours with all of our favorite people. Everything about it was a dream come true.
On July 24, 2010, if I could have pressed the fast-forward button on life to get a glimpse of five years later, here’s what I would have seen.
1. Laughing together is so important. Those times when we’re in the car on the way to the grocery store on a Tuesday night and just being goofy are something to be cherished. We laugh about things I wouldn’t laugh about with anyone else because he gets me in a way that no one else does.
2. Learning how to compromise is a work in progress. Any idiot will tell you that compromise is necessary to relationships, and specifically marriage. And they’d be right. What they don’t tell you is that in order to truly compromise, you have to have a deep level of understanding the things that are important to your spouse. Without it, the compromise doesn’t get you anywhere.
3. The two most important adjectives to describe your spouse are hardworking + thoughtful. A person who is who puts their all into the task in front of them and thinks about others first can accomplish anything. David is almost finished with two years of grad school he’s put so much work into getting this degree. That doesn’t stop him from putting everything into his job + helping around the house. He also thinks about everyone else before himself. I can’t tell you how many little gestures I notice everyday. He fills up my glass with water before it’s even empty. When I ask him to grab something from the grocery store on his way home, he grabs whatever snack I’ve been downing recently. But my favorite part is that his thoughtfulness stretches far beyond me – that’s when you know you have a good man and that his thoughtfulness won’t wear thin. He let’s people over in traffic; he asks the Target cashier about her day; he builds garage shelves for his brother-in-law and sister-in-law; the list goes on forever.
4. Sharing a passion will bring you closer together. David and I both grew up with basketball in our blood. Both our families are big into the sport and we grew up playing it. When we met, we were at a college basketball game. We’ve been to countless games since. When I was given the chance to coach at the high school for the last two seasons, we did it together and it was some of the best times we’ve had together. I can’t tell you how many times we would get home late and talk nonstop about which girl should play where or why our offense didn’t work or what if we moved her to this spot on defense? It also helped that we had the best girls in the world.
5. For better or worse, in sickness and health, in ugly and in pretty. I had a friend who once mentioned that she was worried about her husband seeing her without makeup on their honeymoon. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the ground. The best thing about marriage is the bond that’s shared no matter what the situation. David has loved me on my best and worst days. He’s seen me sobbing because of a bad day at work. He’s seen me puke more times than I’m sure he ever cared to. He’s certainly seen me without makeup on – sometimes for multiple days in a row. And that’s the beauty of it. If you always have to be on for your spouse… oh my gosh how do you have the energy for that? I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
Happy five years to the one who makes life fun every day.
You can check out more of our love story here.
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| Amanda | Christina + Darci + Liz + Natasha | Lauren |
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