Happy One Year to Us!

Today is our ANNIVERSARY! I can NOT believe it has been one year since I married my very best friend. I mean, in a way, it seems like longer. But it also seems so fresh and new! I'm not complaining about that ;). Also, you know how people say the first year is the hardest? Well, if that's true, life is going to be smooth sailing for us. (Don't worry- I don't live in a bubble and do know that hard times will come.) We both had to adjust to married life, but it has been mostly fun and we have ironed out wrinkles without too much hardship. Our year was a blast and also a busy one! We started out married life by finding and buying our house right after the wedding. We spent a month fixing it up, and then moved in. We got to know our new little town and neighborhood, which has been so, so much fun. We have spent some time with friends and even more time just being together. We've gone on a few short trips together, like to the mountains, my college town, my hometown, and the beach. Steven got a promotion at work and my job role and work environment changed some. We have spent time taking pride in our (weedy) yard and house. We've had movie days, movie nights and lots of board game nights. We have delved into our faith even further and found comfort and joy in taking a more active role in our church.

It hasn't all been sunshine and roses, though, lest you think our life is perfect! I've been to more doctor's appointments in the past year than in my entire life (seriously). We have both learned what it means to be a spouse, and that it really is different than boyfriend/girlfriend or even fiance/fiancee dynamics. We are learning to die to self, which is a slow, hard process, but oh so rewarding. We've both learned areas we have to change or improve. We've gone totally off our healthy ways and had to dive back in. But the part that makes it all better is that we've done it all together. Nothing is as hard or as stressful with my best friend by my side! I can't wait to see what the rest of the years hold for us, but I also want them to go slowly so I can sit back and enjoy (haha, I know that is wishful thinking).

So! Our anniversary plans! We made these about 6 months after we got married, in true Stacy fashion. Last year, we went to the free portion of the Ignited by Truth conference and really enjoyed it. We went back for Mass with the bishop, but didn't go to the Saturday talks. This year, we found out it is on our anniversary weekend, so it is the perfect opportunity to splurge a little! Plus, Scott Hahn is one of the speakers and we have both really enjoyed reading his books over the past year, so it just made sense. So we went to the free portion Friday night followed by the paid portion and Mass with the bishop on Saturday. The talks were amazing and we did some good shopping while we were there, too ;). We bought one of the talks on CD, a marriage cross for our living room, and I bought some medals. We also got a sampler of Mystic Monks Carmel coffee which my coffee hating husband can't get enough of! Steven got a book as well. Saturday night we went to the restaurant where we had our rehearsal dinner, since it is the one year anniversary of that (really, it's an excuse to eat there because we love it!). Annnnd thanks to prom, general downtown craziness, AND the beer festival, there was no way we were getting in that restaurant.... so we went to Logan Roadhouse lol. 

Today is our actual anniversary and we are starting it by SLEEPING IN! Then we're going to hit up the Cathedral, which is where we got married, so I can be all weepy while Steven holds my hand in Mass. After that, we are going to to to Cafe Carolina for lunch, which is where we had breakfast on our wedding day, and for a walk at the arboretum, which is where our engagement pictures were done. In the afternoon we'll exchange gifts (something paper as tradition holds but with a unique twist... I will share later!) and feast on the part of the cake we didn't devour right after our honeymoon (oops!). Then tonight we're going to continue the spoiledness of not cooking or cleaning and find somewhere casual but fun to enjoy dinner. Can you tell that we love to celebrate with food??? :)

On that note, thank you for all the love, prayers, and support you have shown us in our first year of marriage! And please don't feel like you have to wish me a happy anniversary again just because I am verbal vomitting in multiple blog posts about it ;).