Anniversary Number NINE?!?

A day that will always be fresh in my mind, no matter how many years pass, is the day that I married Matt. I could recall nearly every detail of the day I married my best friend. I love that because I have a terrible memory. I can't remember what I did last week, so to remember NINE years ago is pretty darn good!

Our marriage is a long story, although some how nine years has passed by more quickly than I ever thought possible. The things we have done, the fears we have conquered, the obstacles we have over come, the places we have lived, have made us incredible together. I am thankful for our marriage. I am thankful for the struggles. I am thankful for the temporary separations. I am even more thankful for the reunions. I am thankful for a man who really loves me, and loves me the way I need to be loved. I am thankful for a man who knows me. I am thankful for a man who forgives me. I am thankful for the disagreements because it makes me understand him better. I am thankful for a man who fights for me, our country and our community. I am thankful.

I am NOT thankful that our scanner is not hooked up because I really want to share some wedding photos. Yes, if you were married nine years ago your photos are NOT digital...weird huh? Almost like being married in the dark ages. Feels like our wedding photos might as well have been etched into stone like Mr. and Mrs. Flinstone. I will work on that.

I not only want remember how thankful I am for Matt and our marriage, but I also want to thank those of you reading this who have helped defend our marriage. We have faced things that should have broken our marriage apart, between personal struggles, deployment, and lengthy separations, there were opportunities for failure. There are so many people to thank for defending, protecting and supporting our marriage, you have helped us grow and continue on this awesome journey together.

I recently found one of our wedding invitations and I read it and I'm so impressed by the wording because it was all so perfect. I remember feeling so much pressure to "get it right" and say exactly the right thing and I look back now and can positively say, "I got it right!"

God has led two lives

to take one path

(formal stuff)

....

invite you to witness their vows

as they begin their joyful journey

God really did lead us together, I know this for sure...and it really, really has been a joyful journey. I am so proud and thankful that we have made it to this day in July, one more year.