10 Years Today!!!!

Ten years ago today I was a bridezilla barking out all kinds of silly orders. Today I can't remember or even imagine what they were, but I don't deny any of the stories... sadly, they are probably all true. I do remember my wedding day as being perfect. It looked exactly the way I wanted it to, everyone I loved was there, I married the man of my dreams, and we all had an amazing time. I remember as we drove away, I looked over at Brian and thought to myself... "oh gosh, there is no going back. Am I sure?" Today, I'm sooo thankful I was smart enough at that young age to choose well.

The past 10 years have been filled with experiences both good and bad. Each experience brings us closer and changes us in some small way. Rather than seeing it as us changing as individuals, we are changing together as a couple. We offset each other 10 years ago to create a perfect balance between Brian's calm nature and my goal oriented take no prisoners attitude. He was able to bring me back to reality while I could light a fire under him when needed. Today the balance is still there, but we've moved along the scale. Both of us are not as extreme as we once were. In some areas we've completely changed roles, but we still balance each other out.

I've been thinking some about how we got together. We both remember the day we first met. The first day of high school. We were sophomores. Brian was afraid of me because I was so loud. We didn't get to really know each other until the end of our junior year. We double dated to prom both junior and senior years. Both years he took good friends of mine and I went with my boyfriend at the time. Starting at the end of our junior year, Brian and I gradually became close friends. I dated someone else for 4 years (junior year through 2nd year in college). For a long time, the three of us were inseparable. Eventually, my high school relationship started to fizzle. Brian decided to move to Georgia for school. Right before he let he gave me a letter (which I still have) telling me that he loved me. It took me a month or so to end my relationship with my high school boyfriend and start dating Brian. Once we were together (half a country apart), everything fell into place. It took us two years from then to get married, but we knew within a week or two that this relationship was forever.

We did actually break up once while dating. Not surprisingly it was because I was moving too fast and he was moving too slow. We were broken up for 2 months or so and were miserable the whole time. I'm certain that 2 months - a blip in time - helped us learn how to change and grow together.

Brian has been a huge part of my life for 16 years now! The past 10 have been amazing, and I couldn't dream up a better husband or father. I'm really hoping we beat my grandparents 65 years of marriage. I know that our lives together will continue to change us. I also know that whatever challenges and victories the future holds, I can count on my best friend and the love of my life to be by my side.