Built on the Little Moments

Next month we will celebrate our three year wedding anniversary. I have found myself thinking about our newlywed days a lot lately. A strong nostalgic feeling somehow leads me to believe that everything was perfect then. We have had some amazing years together (dating years too), but those years have not come without their challenges. I know we have years of great memories ahead of us, but I also know we have years of challenges that will come up too. 

We have spent some long nights learning the art of forgiveness, patience, and love. Watching each other grow up and change, and knowing that we needed to work on those changes together. Fighting to make things work, and learning about parenthood. We have worked to build each other's dreams, and are learning how to make things work on one income. I am so thankful for the man I was blessed with, for the families that we have, for the God we serve, and the faith that holds us together. 

As I think about our wedding, honeymoon, and our first year together I can almost only remember the good times. They are the memories that I hope to hold onto forever. The pure bliss of falling to sleep next to your best friend and waking up completely content with that life-can-get-no-better-than-this-feeling. I remember feeling that exact way the morning after our wedding day. I woke up so excited to do the rest of our lives together.

After leaving the reception... finally in sweats! 

The best day ever... the day after the wedding.

I have come to recognize that life always seems just a little sweeter, a little more perfect, a little more euphoric, when looking at it in the past. It is easy to focus on the negatives when you are actually going through them and living them day to day. A few months down the line all you have are the pictures and sweet memories of the good. I have been trying to limelight the good while I am living it. I know that in another three years I will be looking back at this time in my life and missing it.

I know that when I relive this time in my mind I will have so many sweet memories. I will miss this stage of life. So as I looked back through these photos of the good times....

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

...I couldn't help but think about the good times that I am living right now. The times that just make me smile and think, it doesn't get much better than this. I know that one day I will look back at this blog and miss these days. I will remember my time with Dan and Logan and miss the little moments.

I will choose to enjoy today and to hold dear these special times...

Staying up late and working on the house with Dan. 

Sitting on this little deck while I watch my guys play.

Watching the Andy Griffith show in black and white while cuddling on the couch. 

Checking on Logan in his crib at night and kissing him one last time before bed. 

My down time while I sit in this window and read.

Our long car rides on back roads and not having a clue where we are.

Remembering to hold hands even when life seems so busy.

The cups of coffee that are so often waiting for me when I come downstairs in the morning. 

The Saturdays that Dan can be home and make pancake breakfasts. 

I will never be able to make pancakes like he can.

Lazy family days.

Fishing trips. 

Celebrating our first Christmas in the new house. 

Our rainy day library trips.

Watching these birds hatch, grow, and eventually fly away right outside our front door this spring. 

The hugs that come after disagreements... 

The ones that mean I will forgive you and hold you tight even if I don't understand right now. 

Watching the stars on this quilt out back at night and talking about goals and dreams,

even the ones that seem so far out of reach.

I will cherish books like this that have taught us so much about each other. 

I will be grateful that I have a man that is willing to take the time to get to know me every day.

Our late night dates with two spoons and a container of Ben and Jerry's.

Late night scrabble games... knowing there is no doubt that Dan will be the winner

I could go on forever with lists of things that I want to remember. The things that I will miss in twenty years. The moments that will make these years seem so sweet. I will try to recognize that all of these little moments make our marriage stronger, bring us closer, and are building blocks to the years of good times ahead. Thanking God that I am married to my best friend.