Three Years.

On November 25, 2009 11:05 a.m. in the Draper temple, my life was forever changed.

I never thought I could love him more as we knelt across the alter, tears filling my eyes. I don't think we heard what the sealer was saying, we just stared at each other smiling like we were the only two people in the room. I just couldn't believe I was becoming Landon's wife. I was becoming his forever. The only word to describe it is surreal and one of the happiest moments of my life... up until that point. Little did I know that things were just going to get better. So much better.

I know in the grand scheme of things three years isn't much time at all, but these three years have changed my life. In these short years we have learned a lot...

We've learned that money isn't everything. Our first apartment was a hole in the wall, basement apartment... but we loved it. We also slept on an air mattress for the first six months (oh the simple life of newlywed college students!)

I learned how to bake (kinda), cook (kinda), clean (kinda), and sew (kinda). Landon learned how to deal with crazy, girl emotions (kinda) ;)

baking with our awesome wedding gift. love my kitchen aide! 

We learned what it means to be married...putting the other's needs before our own, communicating, arguing and making up, working together to solve problems and make huge decisions, having fun together, and mostly just loving each other.

We learned that it's the little things in life that mean the most... simple every day things like our nightly walks and eating dinner together are the moments we will look back on and cherish.

We learned how to travel on a budget and have been on three cruises (with two tentatively planned for next year...woot woot!)

We learned that being done with college is the best thing EVER. Graduating was a very, very, very happy moment. Now we have time to spend time together instead of doing lame homework!

We learned how to be real-life adults... with careers not just "jobs" and with a home not just an apartment. Sometimes I still can't believe that we are where we are. Landon is working at his dream job, we are living in our dream state, and I get paid to play with kids all day. We have learned to be grateful for what we have... we do NOT take our home and our jobs for granted.

We learned that living in another state all by ourselves has been one of the best things in our relationship because we learned to rely on each other. Every day we get to be only us. It's been one of the best things for our marriage.

we love you Oregon!

We learned that the best thing to do is laugh together. Play. Be silly. Be best friends. Life is so much more enjoyable when you don't take it too seriously and just be happy.

We learned that we both communicate in different ways and have learned to meet somewhere in the middle. Sometimes I just have to turn around and not face Landon when I'm talking to him about an issue or talk to him with a closed door between us (I don't know why, but it makes it easier for me to talk that way). I have learned that Landon likes to talk about things right away... and it really is for the best.

this is us being "pretend" mad... probably isn't far off from the real thing :)

Landon has learned that I'm a bed hog (sorry dear!) and I have learned that Landon laughs in his sleep sometimes -- I'm so glad he has happy dreams :) oh, I also learned that Landon likes to sleep with stuffed animals. Cutie pie.

I have learned to share my toothbrush if Landon forgets his when we go on a trip. As a germaphobe this was a big one for me, but I have to remember... I kiss that mouth every day. And then I just can't think about it too much or I'll puke maybe.

kissing...sharing a toothbrush... same thing right?!

I just asked Landon for input on anything he's learned while being married... he said I learned how to build a boat. I said, how is building a boat anything to do with learning to be married?! His reply should probably be on a plaque somewhere... "Being married is like a boat... if you don't spend time on it... it'll sink" Well said Nan, well said.

where's Landon?

We've learned ALL about each other's strengths and weaknesses. It's funny how much we balance each other out... Landon is all about logic. I'm all about emotion (think: tin man and scarecrow).  He's smart. I struggle. He's very, very, very confident. I'm working on it. He tells people how he's feeling and is sometimes brutally honest. I'm more sweet and avoid confrontation at all costs. He likes to fix things. I tend to break things. He is very calm and collected in tense situations. I freak out and turn into a hyper spaz when presented with stress. He tends to keep to himself. I am a social butterfly and crave friends and social interaction. Very early on in our relationship Landon told me I was the ying to his yang... I couldn't agree more.

These past three years have not been perfect, but I wouldn't change a thing. Marriage has it's ups and downs and it requires constant effort on both parts. We're not perfect, so of course our marriage isn't perfect. Thankfully, we have the rest of eternity to figure it out together. I know we have SO much more to learn :)

Happy 3 years my love. I can't believe you're mine forever.

want more mush? Wedding details, year 1 post, year 2 post