5 Years & Counting!

Yikes! Has it really been that long? 1,825 days of marriage – crazy how that sounds when it is broken down into days. Five years – it feels like just yesterday we said our vows and yet, it also feels like we have been together forever. That truly is the best of both worlds. Looking back at photos of us over the years fills my heart with such joy of all the memories we have made.

We have spent our marriage continuously learning more about each other and dare I say, ourselves. Although it has not always been easy, by putting in the work it is quite rewarding to look back on our journey together. We have changed and grown over the years – especially horizontally! At least as we grow outward it has been proportionally to each other so it is less noticeable.

I love that we continue to challenge each other to be our best selves. I also appreciate that we are able to have fun and to maintain healthy level of competition with each other. Especially when it comes to air hockey and ski-ball!

I have always appreciated the fact that my husband tolerates and has even started to enjoy my sense of humor. He may not come out and say it, but he does crack a smile and occasionally chuckle at my jokes and comments! So I am calling it a win.

We have learned to lean on each other in difficult times. In five years of marriage and eight years together (in May). We have gotten through various challenges:  raising an amazing little human, purchasing a house and making it a home, adopting a dog, surviving transverse myelitis and many more. The most impressive being that we survived (barely) 8 packer seasons – some seasons being more stellar than others. We have truly made it through thick and thin.

This journey with my better half, has taught me so much about life, love, friendship, flexibility, communication, teamwork,  vulnerability, and strength. Over the years Nick’s little quirks and idiosyncrasies have grown on me. They are predictable nuances that make me smile rather than sigh. One thing I hope is that my little quirks have not magnified for him over the years.

I love that we stay connected by indulging in our once a month date nights. I enjoy how we touched base and talk with each other about more than our day. I appreciate how we kiss each other and  say goodbye or good night even when we are not seeing eye-to-eye. I am thankful that when we do disagree that we both fight fairly.

It is nice that we have shared hobbies, as well as separate ones. I am glad that we are a team with everything from parenting to chores and finances. Having a partner who is willing to help pick up the slack when one of us gets busy or run down is something I am grateful for everyday. I find it quite wonderful that we have also bonded and formed strong relationships with our in-laws.

I honestly continue to fall more in love with my husband every year. Over the last 5 years, I have held true to my promises that I made in our vows on our wedding day. I have not run over his kayak and I continued to not only be his sandwich maker, but I have also the best sandwich maker I could be. To accomplish this I have perfected my sandwich making skills so well, that it could almost be considered an art form at this point.

Every anniversary we try to go away, just the two of us, for a long weekend. We find that investing our money into time away – together gives us more satisfaction than any tangible object could. Now, traditionally many people celebrate each anniversary with a specific gift type for each year of marriage. Apparently wood is the traditional gift for the fifth anniversary. Since we are not super traditional people, in lieu of another worldly possession, my husband just gave me his wood instead of a carved object. Quite honestly, this was preferred not only because of the romance, but let’s be real – we should be planting more trees to fight global warming; rather than cutting them down to commemorate an anniversary. Nothing says happy anniversary better than continuing to consummate your marriage and keep the fire alive!

I look forward to many more years of growing with you, Nick. Sharing millions of little moments. Creating thousands of stories. There is something special about knowing I will always have you as my partner in crime, even if it is not always voluntary. Specifically when I get the urge to cause trouble. Who would have thought that our love story would have started online, with a single email?