Ten

One decade ago I married the love of my life while wearing my sister's wedding dress that was apparently about an inch too short.

We were both 22 years old, but only one of us looked like it.

This is my husband on our honeymoon. The bed & breakfast folks brought a candlelit tray of dessert to the room each night. We ate it in the tub.

I almost feel pervy just looking at that picture.
He was a baby.

We started our new lives together in Texas, because the Air Force told us to.

This was our first home.

Well, at least half of it was. It was a duplex, as you can tell.

Fact: I am still writing checks from this address.
Another Fact: We are still driving the Corolla.

Our first year of marriage was tough.

On top of the adjustment of being newly married and far from home, Josh's year was spent in undergraduate pilot training-- a demanding and stressful course.

I lived in a hotel in Mississippi for 3 months doing my Air Force nurse's training, and then spent the rest of the year trying to balance my first full time job with my new role as a wife.

My domestic skills left quite a bit to be desired.
(Some things haven't changed.)

Josh was always at work or studying, I was working shifts, and neither of us were blown away by what was supposed to be the "honeymoon season" of life.

Turns out that instead of being all roses and sunshine, figuring out how to meld two separate people into one unit was not as automatic as we'd thought it would be.
Learning to put each other first was a learning process, but a worthwhile one.

Thinking back to that time in our lives seems like forever ago. Yet in the same breath I wonder if it's possible that it's truly been ten years.

During those years we've lived in 5 homes, made multiple cross country moves, have been blessed with two beautiful children, and have shared happiness and heartache.

I know it sounds cliche, but I think Josh and I would both say that our love for each other has grown deeper every year. 
I am so grateful to be married to a man of God who strives to love his family sacrificially.
I'm proud to support him as he serves our country.

Even when he has to leave town as our son gets a stomach virus and our daughter clogs the toilet.
And if you know how I feel about puke, that's saying a lot.

I love you Josh! I wish we could be together today to celebrate!

And so you could give the kids their baths tonight.

But mostly to celebrate.

Here's to an amazing 10 years! I can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for us in the next ten.