I'll Try Not to Make This Too Mushy...

...but I make no promises! ;)

Happy 1st Anniversary!!!

One year ago today, I was lucky enough to marry my best friend! We've really had an amazing year, full of God's blessings and trials, and while times in a marriage aren't always perfect, we've made a habit of coming out better and always together on the other side. I really wouldn't trade a single moment of our lives together, even the hard ones have helped shape our love for one another. We've learned so much from each other in the past year, and we have grown together in a way I never knew was possible. I know this is cliche to say, but I truly am even more in love with Chris today than I was a year ago, and it brings me such joy to know that my love for him will continue to grow and evolve in our future years together. Chris has far exceeded any dream or desire I've ever had for what my husband would be like. Not only is he a wonderful provider and leader, he takes such care of my heart, ever attentive and considerate of my feelings and needs. He has a knack for keeping me on my toes and laughing constantly...even from thousands of miles away, he can always make me smile! My only hope is that I am able to give him the same selfless love and care that he has given me. My cup overflows!! :)

Here are some pictures from the wedding...it's hard to believe it was a whole year ago!

 

 

 

I think this picture serves as a perfect description of us...goofy and always ready to have a good time! :)

We would really like to express our utmost appreciation to the many family and friends who have prayed for us and our marriage. Those prayers have truly been felt every step of the way! God has blessed us in so many ways in just this first year of our lives together, and I know He will continue to bless and take care of us through many more years to come.

Celebrating "Early"

Given Chris's deployment to Afghanistan, we knew we would not be able to uphold the tradition of eating the top layer of our wedding cake on our first anniversary. So instead, we decided to have it on the one year anniversary of our engagement, which happens to be New Years Eve. I really had low expectations for what the cake would look or taste like after having traveled in a melty ice chest across half of the US in the middle of June...

but it was actually still in pretty good shape...

(I kept the sugar flowers on my kitchen counter until we moved out...they were still so pretty I couldn't bring myself to throw them away!)

and it was still really good!

We ended up eating the whole thing over the next week!

Wow, has this year flown by! It literally seems like just a few weeks ago we were moving into our house on Camp Pendleton, painting the walls, decorating, and adding our own touches to our first home together. What a difference one year can make. We are eagerly looking forward to what God has planned in the many years of our marriage still to come!