3 years.

Dear Matt,

I honestly cannot believe it has been 3 years already.

I remember waking up this day 3 years ago to a snowstorm.

I remember it feeling unreal that I was getting married.

I remember getting my hair and make-up done...and how everyone seemed much more anxious than I did. Numerous people commented on how calm I was.

I remember the chaos of having so many little ones a part of our ceremony.

I remember your mom crying...A LOT!

I remember getting our pictures taken and how cold it was.

Seriously SO SO cold!

I remember standing together and reciting our vows.

I remember driving to Grand Rapids and opening letters from our loved ones.

I don't remember much about the details.

What people said, or things we did.

If there is anything I learned these past three years though it was that we were just babies and didn't know much.

I remember several people telling us that we were too young and it was too soon to get married.

And I remember blowing them off and getting so mad.

Who knew that you would, ever so lovingly, point out later in our marriage that controlling my anger is something I need to work on.

Looking back now...we were young.

So young.

I didn't finish college...and don't have a career and initials to put after my name.

But that is a decision we made together.

We have struggled with you finishing college...especially now with a baby.

But in just TWO MONTHS you will walk across that gymnasium and receive that darn piece of paper...and we will be able to say...we did that! 

We were young and married...and had a baby...and you still got your degree.

And we paid for it on our own.

AND you were on the Deans List every semester.

I am proud of us!

We have bought houses...sold houses...moved...bought cars and sold cars...paid off a lot of debt.

We have gone through a long and pukey pregnancy!

We have had a baby.

We have known being TIRED!

And we have had so much fun together.

We have seen each other at our worst...and best.

We have found out just how selfish and strong-willed we both are.

We have struggled with learning to budget...and we have known financial freedom.

These past three years have been SUCH a learning curve for us both.

I remember standing on that stage reciting our vows.

I have no idea what those promises that I made to you were anymore...but I am pretty sure I have broken about 95% of them. We had good intentions, but we had no idea the reality of marriage when the lovey dovey honeymoon stage wore off.

We were young, but I wouldn't change it for anything.

We did all of our growing up together.

All of our decisions were made together.

We really learned to understand each other and truly know each other.

I can honestly say I love you so much more now than the day we got married...or the day that I was completely infatuated when you facebooked me way back in the fall of 2008!

It hasn't always been easy, but it really has been such a blessing.

Happy 3 years, my love!