A Look Back

Today is the one-year anniversary of mine and Jonathan's engagement. Remember this...

I can't believe this beautiful ring has been on my finger for that long! And I surely can't believe how far we've come together. I can still taste the delicious meal we shared at The Hil in Serenbe, and I can still hear him asking me to do him the "great honor" of becoming his wife.

We're also preparing to celebrate our 6-month anniversary on April 15 — or, our "half-iversary" as my coworker, Angela, calls it. My, how this first year of our marriage is flying by!

I can't wait to celebrate the weddings of my besties over the next year or so! So much excitement. First comes love, then comes marriage... ;-)

A Look Back....

Here's a blog entry I wrote on Nov. 2 that I'm dredging up to share with the world (yes, I meant to launch this blog a long time ago and got busy — so sue me!):

Well, it's been 2 weeks and 4 days since I said "I do" to married life. And, can I just say, that it's been positively blissful!?! I went into this marriage worried about how tough the transition would be — and for two seemingly legitimate reasons. One, I've known myself for 27 years. My dad wasn't being funny in our wedding toast when he said I'm high maintenance. I like to do my own thing in my own time. I get in touch-me-not moods. And I'm a Type A, obsessive-compulsive, neat freak. Reason two was because the whole world told me to be worried. Everyone says the first year of marriage is the hardest. It's like diving into a pool of frigid water and having to get acclimated — or at least that's what I expected. Instead, our little home is my sanctuary. I love coming home to the kindest, most loving man on earth! He's tender, attentive, considerate....I could go on, but I don't want to make anyone gag. My loving husband strives to make me happy. He understands my idiosyncracies and knows how to handle me (he's especially great at diffusing me with humor) ;-) I already find myself looking for new ways to show him that I adore him — that he means everything to me. I love the little weekly routines we've already settled into — the I love yous every morning and night, lunch dates, church on Sundays.... I love that our family is starting its own holiday traditions, like carving our Halloween pumpkin and roasting the pumpkin seeds!! For the first time ever, we're going to be hosting our families for Christmas in our new home!! I'm no decorator or cook, so this should be interesting...I'm already consulting every available edition of Southern Living to get ideas! Stay tuned!! (Update: The holidays were rockin' awesome!)

Here's what I planned to post on New Year's Eve:

When I sit back and think about all that happened this year, I have to pinch myself. I was looking at a picture of myself taken on New Year's day 2010 and I couldn't help but think: This girl has NO IDEA what's in store for her! That picture — that day — was a turning point in my life. I remember feeling different and deciding that, from then on, I'd sprint toward happiness and toward Godliness. He's taken me far in 12 months. I'm indebted to Him, but also to so many people that showed Jonathan and me generosity as we barreled toward marriage and homeownership, never looking back.

This was the year of blessings, and this was a year of gratitude. We are certainly looking forward to 2011!