One Year Ago Today. . .

One year ago today, John and I exchanged wedding vows in Alabama. To celebrate that wonderful event, we decided to come back to Alabama to visit. Last year, I drove to Alabama a week early and then John flew in a couple days before our wedding. This year, we cooked up a fun surprise. We drove down together, but didn't tell anyone in town that we were coming. What fun we had in surprising everyone and seeing family and friends again!

This year has been so very good. Some of the reading we did before marriage warned of how difficult the first year can be. It almost made me afraid to marry - but not quite! But this year has been good in so many ways. Having John as my husband this past year has been wonderful! To come home from work and have a constant friend to eat with and spend time with each evening is great. Having shared goals, struggles and joys is wonderful. John has been very kind, loving, sensitive and supportive to me. He is way more than I could ever have imagined or deserved. I'm so thankful that God brought us together!

We've done a lot of traveling this past year. Visiting Washington, British Columbia, Illinois, Alabama, Kansas, South Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania has kept us busy and more in touch with friends and family than I imagined would be possible. Spending weekends at home relaxing or getting to know friends we've made here has been fun as well. We look forward to the many changes that God will bring us in the next year of marriage!

Six Month Anniversary!

Six months ago today . . .

Surrounded by so many wonderful friends and family members. . . .

My dad gave me away . . .



I became one with John . . .


Our parents blessed us. . .




Our Pastors challenged us. . .

We had our first kiss ever. . .

And left that ceremony as husband and wife!

I am so thankful that by God's grace, we met and have been married now for 6 months! We often think back and are amazed at all that has happened. It was only 2 years ago this month that we were matched on eharmony. I had already determined to only correspond with a guy who showed initiative and leadership by initiating contact. John had determined to only contact girls that were of the type he thought he might one day marry. Thankfully, I was of that type! We were engaged about a year later and now we're a married couple.

John is such a blessing to my life. He's changed just about all the external things about me - my name, my titles, where I live, where I work, where I go to church. Along the way, we've experienced so many new things together. We're endeavoring to learn each other. I'm finding that (shockingly!) John doesn't think and act like I would in every situation. Of course, we're also finding that in many areas we think and act a lot alike. John is very sweet and kind and encouraging. I am so thankful to be married to such a wonderful man!

So far we have celebrated our 1/12, 1/6, 1/4, 1/3, 5/12 and now our 1/2 anniversary in various ways: For our 1/6th, John surprised me by putting a card and a big chocolate kiss in my car the night before and I found it when I was leaving for work that morning. For our 1/3, I gave John some candy and a card and he took me out to a nearby italian restaurant. For our 5/12, we went out to the Cheescake Factory for a fun dinner. Celebrating for any little reason is a lot of fun!

Today, I think we will celebrate as we prepare for our weekend guests! John's family is driving out to visit us this weekend. We are definitely looking forward to their arrival. I think we will be doing some cooking this evening as they drive so we won't have as much to do once they are here.