Sunday, August 11, 2013

Marriage: We are now Second Years


Warning: Don’t read this if you have a weak stomach when it comes to sappy shenanigans.

To my husband of one year,

I love you.  Would you just look at this?  Can you believe it’s been a year?  It’s surreal, right?  Just like our wedding day.  You know, there were times that I thought the wedding would never get here, and now it’s a year since.

I will always love reminiscing about that day.  About getting ready in the church with my bridesmaids.  Mary Beth and Ashley helping me with my makeup.  Mallory putting together a dismissal soundtrack for me at the last minute.  Feeling so uncomfortable in front of the camera.  Seeing my dad for the first time in my dress.  Having the women of my life come in to see me before things got started.  Sharing our first journal entries with each other on opposite sides of the wall.  My eyes filling with tears when Jessa told me how you started to cry during that time.  Passing you my ring.  Seeing our precious flower girls and ring bearers.  Becoming downright giddy as the time drew nearer.  Jumping up and down in my big dress because I wanted the ceremony to get started.  Hearing Return of the King and the Tangled soundtrack playing while waiting in the hall.  Having Margo and my bridesmaids praying over me before I walked down the aisle.  Peeking around the corner and waving to people.  Hearing Legends of the Fall start to play as our bridal party entered the sanctuary.  Gripping my dad’s arm as we prepared to meet you.

Seeing you.  Walking towards you.  Seeing you stand on the sides of your feet, balling up your fists, and attempting to hold back tears.  Excitedly putting your ring on your finger and saying our vows.  Having you kiss me as my husband for the first time.


I wish that I had carried my own camera with me that day, so that I could have captured moments I saw throughout the day.  To see my point of view again.

At this time a year ago, we were settling into our reception, probably getting ready to listen to Jeremy and Katie’s toasts.  I nestled into your arm as we listened and thought, “This is right where I belong.”

And then we danced the night away, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you and your mad dance moves.  (Throughout this year of wedded bliss, I have endlessly enjoyed watching you dance around the apartment- in case you wonder if I still notice your moves.  I think each time you dance, I love you a little more.)  

I think it was during your mother-son dance when Jacob came to sit by me.  He asked me what I was most looking forward to about being married.  My answer was, “Not having to say goodbye anymore.”  Long distance was rough.  I hated it.  But then I think it helped us get to where we needed to be.

What about this year?  Well, dear husband, I’ve loved it.  I’m so glad we were able to start it off with a spectacular week in Cancun.  (When can we go back?)  Knowing that we were heading into a potentially tough year, with you in school, and me, looking for work, it was fantastic to start it off with a short time of sheer bliss and nothing encroaching on our time together.



I can see why people say the first year is the hardest.  How many times did we realize we had silly expectations for what this was going to be like?  Ok, it was probably more this girl that you married, who had the silly expectations.  However, if that’s the hardest, then I think we’re golden.

Jered, I’ve loved waking up to your morning breath, trying to make decent food for you to eat, being a team, not having to say goodbye to you, watching you succeed in your studies, seeing you get your first “adult” job, finding what you want to do with your life, renting dollar movies for dates, learning the ins and outs of the city with you, starting a completely new life at your side, talking about the future, hearing you improve on the harmonica, spending holidays with you, making and filling our first stockings together, going to sleep with your blasted fan blowing in my face, and so much more.

I can’t wait to see what this next year will bring.  It’s exciting, no?  I mean, look at how much has changed this year.  Who knows where we will be a year from now.  I’m excited to find out.


 I have so much more to tell you, husband.  So much more to thank you for.  So much more to dream about.  My scattered brain will have to put it into writing some other time.

I hope my letter didn’t embarrass you too much.  If it did… too bad.  Occupational hazard of being my husband.  

So, until next time you are on the receiving end of my writing, I love you.  Thank you for a wonderfully memorable first year.

Love,

Aimee

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