It crept up on me.
We reunited after a summer apart. We got married. Went on our honeymoon. Moved into our apartment, and started the fall semester. We made it through a whirlwind semester full of lasts, and firsts. We drove to Ohio for Thanksgiving. I graduated from college. We road tripped to Texas for Christmas. He finished his school year. We fixed our car. We tilled the garden. He got summer jobs. We laughed, fought, and lived. And today is our first anniversary.
Worry, for me, is a default. Most days, I have to relax my clenched fists, and remind myself to roll with the punches. When I got married I had a list of fears about wedded life. They said the first year of marriage is the hardest, that real life can be so disappointing, and to enjoy the honeymoon while it lasted. And there was truth in those whispered cautions. And yet, I love this year’s version of us about a million times more than the two people who stood at the altar a year ago. Him in his gray suit, and her in the classic white tulle.
We’ve grown up a bit. Learned that we can make it through anything that comes our way. Lost a bit of selfishness, and gained a little more compassion. Counseled each other through rough times. Forgiven when we wanted to hold a grudge. Chosen to work on it. To love. To let go.
He’s opened jars when my small hands couldn’t pry the lid off, and I’ve whipped up food when he’s been exhausted. We have stumbled, and fallen, but the other person has always been there with a box of tissues, and an extended hand.
Marriage is often looked down upon in America. The rates of married couples continue to drop as cohabitation rises. Marriage is seen as restrictive, unnecessary, and old-fashioned. Millennials are encouraged to put off tieing the knot so that they can get travel, invest in their career, and fully enjoy their unencumbered 20’s.
However, marriage is not an anchor that keeps you tied to land when you want to travel. It is the weight that keeps you safe when storms try to send you overboard. Marriage is not a dead-weight in regards to your career. It is the candle burning in the window at the end of a long work day. Marriage is old-fashioned only in the sense that apple pie, coffee, and the ocean are as well: they’ve been around a lot longer than us, and that’s a good thing.
If given the choice again, I would choose this musical Tongan warrior again and again. I am so glad I married him. He was exactly who I was missing, and I didn’t even know it until I met him.
Hello! May I purchase this 1st Anniversary template? I love this for a gift for my husband!
Hello. I was wondering if you had a free downloadable of the first year anniversary thing you did! I love the layout of it and would love to use it! Thanks!
Hey Courtney! I am sorry, I don’t have a downloadable version! I would be happy to create a graphic for you, though! Let me know if that is something you are interested in. 🙂
“It is the candle burning in the window at the end of a long work day. ” Amen! Beautiful! Wishing you guys many more awesome years of loving each other and growing together. Marriage is a deep, real good.
Thank you, Rachel!!
Congrats on one year!
Funny story, I was actually in Norway for a wedding I was in on our first anniversary! HAHAH. Oh dear 😉
Anyways, love this post! So excited for the many years ahead!
Wow, I got teary reading this…
Our first anniversary comes up soon, too, (August 7!) so this hits close to home. What a beautiful reflection! Our first year included moving, lots of homework, and tons of tears too!
Marriage truly is more difficult than any single person could imagine, but also far, far more incredible, too. My husband truly has become almost “an anchor to my Anchor” and has kept me more grounded in my faith than I could have been on my own.
Thanks for posting this! Can’t wait to write my own post like this in a couple of weeks:)
This graphic is SO KILLER and SUCH a great idea!!! Maybe I’ll try to do something along those lines for our anniversary, if that’s okay! (With credit to you, duh!) You’re the best! Happy Anniversary!!!
Absolutely! I got the idea from a few similar graphics on Pinterest. 🙂
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I LOVE THIS POST! Thank you, Bethie, for sharing this with your readers. Such an affirming and happy glimpse into a healthy, loving relationship. God bless!
Thanks Mom! I cannot believe it has been A YEAR already! Whew! Where does the time go?
What a beautiful post. Happy Anniversary to you both!!! x
Thank you, Lis! You are the sweetest!
Oh my gosh I just love this. This is perfection, and an encouraging but realistic outlook on year 1 of marriage!!
Thanks, Nina! I am so excited to follow your journey to marriage on your blog! Good times ahead!
Bethany, this is beautiful, joyful, and affirming. I teared up reading it, I am so happy for you both and happy to have friends with such a godly marriage. Your second to last paragraph could not be more accurate! Happy Anniversary!!
Thanks for the encouragement, Brianna! I am so excited for everything God is going to do through you and your husband. You guys are inspiring!