365 days

Well, ok, our anniversary is May 22 so I still have four days but I think I will still feel the same way about our first year of marriage in four days as I do right now! Plus, as I write this, I have some down time, which I won't have, come this weekend!

At this time last year, I was probably way too stressed out over floral arrangements, programs, etc. and it was probably all being taken out on Adam. Looking back, I wish I had taken the advice that my mom had given me, more seriously: Don't sweat the small stuff. Will I still be married at the end of the day? Yes. Will we still have a wonderful marriage when it is all said and done? Yes. Adam took it all and certainly didn't have to. He was my rock then, and continues to be the one person who can calm me down when I am overworked which is one of the many reasons I love him.

Here are a few pictures from our beautiful day!

Completely stressed leading up to the wedding but the day of, cool as a cucumber!

I just love him!

This epitomizes the day entirely: Sweet and beautiful love!

Isn't he the most handsome?

I had to include a picture of the cake because it was the sing most detail I was most excited about!

I have learned quite a few things about Adam, myself, life, family, and marriage in the last year. Every year is a growing experience and this year was no different as we started our life growing together. Here are some of the bigger things I have learned this year that I think will only strengthen our marriage and us, individually, for the future.

• Some of the things we have experienced this year (unemployment and overall lack of stability) have really only strengthened our relationship for the better. We have learned to depend on each other for guidance and support and have learned to trust that God will provide and has a greater plan for us. I feel that we are beginning to see the light and I know even better things will come this year.
• It is alright to have alone time and I do require this at least a couple times a week. I don't need to spend every waking minute with Adam, just because we are married. I do like to have time to myself and have my own interests. I enjoy having the time during the day where we have two completely different jobs but are still able to discuss what is going on in our work life.
• It is alright to have our own friends and spend time with them without the other. In the fall, I had a couple bachelorette parties to attend while Adam stayed at home. This Spring, Adam had the same thing where he was gone for the weekend. I don't mind it, and I actually I welcome it. Am I ready to get home or for him to get home come Sunday afternoon? Yes. But I think it makes us appreciate each other more and appreciate the relationship we have with our friends more.
• I am very grateful for the opportunity I have had being close to my family and for Adam to become closer to my family. When I first went to college, I never imagined moving back to Rolla. As I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate my family much more and in a different way. I am confident there will be a time (it may be this year, it may be in four years) that I will move away from my family once again so I truly do appreciate the time I have been able to spend with my family. It has also been wonderful seeing Adam get to know and grow closer to my family as well. I hope to have that experience with his at some point.
• I have never been more proud of Adam than I am at this very moment and I have a feeling that will continue to grow as well. Not only has Adam discovered what kind of relationship he wants God to play in his life, he has taken significant strides towards going back to school and completing his degree. I have seen him work harder this past Spring (in school and with his job) than any other time through the course of our relationship and it makes me so proud.

There are so many other points I could touch upon, but as I reflect on the past year, those were the major things that came to mind. I know we will only have one "First" Anniversary, but I would like to think that all of them will be special. Each year we will experience lots of firsts whether it is our first pet, first house, first road trip, etc. each anniversary will include its firsts. Happy Anniversary to my Adam and I can't wait to celebrate several more "Firsts" with you!

Mixed Emotions

I have mixed feelings regarding Osama Bin Laden’s death. While I watched CNN Monday evening when it was announced, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointed when I saw the reactions of my fellow Americans. Am I happy that someone with such hatred towards, not just the United States but to mankind is no longer a threat; yes. Am I happy someone died? No. In addition, I am not sure if jumping for joy and having mass celebrations across the country was the best reaction as it would egg on his followers. Instead of celebrating the death of someone, what if we continued prayer for the people he inflicted harm upon?

Unlike so many that were affected by the actions of 9/11, I was stuck in Midwest bubble and could only imagine what it would have been like to experience such a tragedy through internet and TV. Yes, it was a very devastating event. Yes, it instilled a lot of fear and anger inside so many. However, I am not sure if the way we celebrated the death of an individual should have been the appropriate action. I will celebrate when terrorism has died, not when a terrorist has.

What are your thoughts on the subject? This is one of the great things about the United States; our ability to speak freely without punishment.