4 years ago today, I woke up surrounded by my family and best friends. Well, truth be told, my best friend and long-time roommate Shelby had to wake me up - just like she had a hundred times before. But this day, March 18, 2006, was different than any day before or since because this day I would wear white, be escorted down the aisle by my dad, hand my flowers to my sister standing beside me, and exchange vows with the man who would give me his last name. On this day four years ago, Dan Johnston became my husband, took me by the hand, and we headed off on this crazy adventure together that just keeps going.
And I have loved every minute of it!
Okay, maybe not every MINUTE - there have been a few of those minutes. But every day, week, month, year of it? Absolutely.
Usually at a mile-marker like a birthday or anniversary, one stops to ponder and comes to the conclusion I can't believe it's been that long! But today I feel like it has been every bit of those 4 years we celebrate today. After all, here are a few of the big changes we've gone through together in that time:
-I graduated college
-We moved from Iowa to Tennessee
-Dan started grad school
-I searched for and found my first job
-We lived in a tiny shoe-box apartment together where we used an airmattress as a couch for a time until we could afford a used couch off of Craig's List
-Dan moved from class-work to a full year of rotations in which he essentially changed jobs (some of them away) every 6 weeks
-Dan graduated, passed his boards, and got his first job as a PA
-We moved again, this time across the city to a nice little town home
-We found out we were expecting!
-I got laid off
-Dan switched jobs (and fields of medicine)
-We had our first child, Caroline, in September of 2009
Whew! When I think about where we were 4 years ago - in wonderful Orange City, I still in college and Dan working construction, surrounded by our dear college friends, and totally clueless as to what marriage would really be like - to where we are now - in Nashville, TN, Dan with a great job and I at home with our nearly 6-month old daughter - when I think about that, I feel every bit of those 4 years we have traversed together. And I can say without out question that there is no one else in this big wide world that I would rather have done this with, no one else who could have loved me better through each and every change, and no one who could have made it more fun!
To a wonderful husband, fantastic dad, and crazy-fun best friend: I love you with every fiber of my being, Dan. And I can't wait to see what these next 4 years, 10 years, even 40 years (Lord willing) will bring for us.
And I have loved every minute of it!
Okay, maybe not every MINUTE - there have been a few of those minutes. But every day, week, month, year of it? Absolutely.
Usually at a mile-marker like a birthday or anniversary, one stops to ponder and comes to the conclusion I can't believe it's been that long! But today I feel like it has been every bit of those 4 years we celebrate today. After all, here are a few of the big changes we've gone through together in that time:
-I graduated college
-We moved from Iowa to Tennessee
-Dan started grad school
-I searched for and found my first job
-We lived in a tiny shoe-box apartment together where we used an airmattress as a couch for a time until we could afford a used couch off of Craig's List
-Dan moved from class-work to a full year of rotations in which he essentially changed jobs (some of them away) every 6 weeks
-Dan graduated, passed his boards, and got his first job as a PA
-We moved again, this time across the city to a nice little town home
-We found out we were expecting!
-I got laid off
-Dan switched jobs (and fields of medicine)
-We had our first child, Caroline, in September of 2009
Whew! When I think about where we were 4 years ago - in wonderful Orange City, I still in college and Dan working construction, surrounded by our dear college friends, and totally clueless as to what marriage would really be like - to where we are now - in Nashville, TN, Dan with a great job and I at home with our nearly 6-month old daughter - when I think about that, I feel every bit of those 4 years we have traversed together. And I can say without out question that there is no one else in this big wide world that I would rather have done this with, no one else who could have loved me better through each and every change, and no one who could have made it more fun!
To a wonderful husband, fantastic dad, and crazy-fun best friend: I love you with every fiber of my being, Dan. And I can't wait to see what these next 4 years, 10 years, even 40 years (Lord willing) will bring for us.
6 comments:
Happy Anniversary! I'm with you in that in someways it seems like so long, and in others it seems like just yesterday. Ahh, the day of your wedding. I remember that drive to Missouri...Cindy, Mel and I...did Cindy ever tell you the story of the exploding burrito? If not I'll have to tell you sometime! :)
Okay, a few things:
1. good post.
2. happy anniversary, obviously.
3. that picture of you two in the empty apt. brings back many memories. wow.
4. i like your "family" better in the last one ;-) ... but only a little bit.
5. the last picture is a great picture of you two... but Caroline isn't cooperating as much. and so your inheritance has really begun...
see you tomorrow!
Love you too honey! Thanks for the great memories, all the challenging changes and the years ahead!
I so love your hair long. Happy Anniversary!
Melinda
Congrats!! I always forget that our anniversaries are so close together. In other news, that photo of you and Dan dressed up all Dutch like gets me EVERY TIME. I am legally binding you to post that to your blog at least once a year.
Thanks guys! Carrie, I don't think I ever did hear the story of the exploding burrito...do share! And Amy, you will be happy to know that we are making a trip back for Tulip Festival again this year, so there may or may not be more Dutch photos to come...
Post a Comment