a year as husband and wife

In my last post, I said I would tell you what happened five years after that special October day at the state fair. But first, I wanted to tell what happened in the five years between.

Matt and I in December 2005 after a day of student
teaching for me. He was visiting me in Knoxville.

Matt and I both knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, but we didn't know how to logistically make that happen with us living eight hours apart at the time. I immediately started graduate school for teacher education the summer after earning my degree, and that was followed by a teaching internship. I thought I could easily get a teaching job in North Carolina after I finished up graduate school and could support myself through those means and be near Matt. Problem solved, right? 15 credit hours shy of completing my graduate degree, I decided I no longer wanted to be a teacher. It was a difficult decision, but more so for the fact that quitting the program also meant saying good-bye to the job option that would pave the way for us to not have a long distance relationship.
 

Here we were in early 2006, making our first homemade
pizza together. I remember my dad complaining about it
taking too long. He was hungry!

Matt stood by me the entire way and reassured me that we would find a way to make it work. I wanted to try out dog grooming school, but it came with a price tag of a few thousand dollars, and after sinking thousands of dollars into my college education, I didn't want to go into deeper debt for another career option until I knew for sure I wanted to stick with it. So I planned to work anywhere I could long enough to save up money. That led to a job in state government that I got comfortable in, and a temporary thing became a three year thing, and I stayed there right up until two days before our wedding.

This was taken on October 16, 2007 before we
headed to dinner for our 3rd anniversary.

In the mean time, Matt was applying for jobs that would put us closer together and was even nearly hired on at the newspaper in Knoxville on two different occasions. He ended up in Gastonia four years ago, cutting the distance between us in half to four hours. I started applying for jobs in Gastonia but had no luck.

Earlier on in our relationship, Matt really wanted us to live in the same location and date like "normal" couples, instead of having to travel just to see each other, before we got engaged. He thought it seemed silly to be engaged when you were in separate states and had no idea when you could be in the same one. As a woman, I would have been totally fine with having a pretty ring on my finger. ;-) But I understood.

We were at the corn maze in Corryton,
Tenn. in October 2008 for this photo.

As time wore on, I think the misery of being apart took a toll on us both. We never doubted we would stick together, but we were very unhappy with day to day life that didn't include us being together. Thank God for free long distance calling! Living together before marriage was an option neither of us supported or would consider, so we kept waiting for the right job opportunity where we could live in the same town. Matt also began realizing it was no longer important to him for us to live in the same location first. He just wanted me as his wife.

Moments after Matt proposed to me on February 12, 2009
at the World's Fair Park in Knoxville.

Finally, in the fall of 2008, we got tired of waiting on the perfect scenario, crunched the numbers financially, and decided to take a leap of faith. We started shopping for engagement rings at that time, and he proposed to me while in Knoxville on February 12, 2009. Soon after, we set a wedding date of October 18, 2009 -- five years and two days after we first revealed our love to each other.

Exchanging vows on our wedding day one year ago.

I just bored you with all the five-year history to help you better understand what brought us to where we are today and how much more meaningful this year has been to us because of the journey. Looking back, as miserable as I was to not be with Matt on a daily basis, it truly was the best thing for our relationship to blossom into the beautiful love we share today. That first year or two we were a couple, I thought I knew him so well and loved him so deeply. After five years together before we were married, that love and devotion grew in ways that a couple of years would not have allowed for. We had already been through so much together -- even simply to spend time together -- we knew we could last forever.

Laughing after we share our first kiss.

When we exchanged vows on this date a year ago, I was the happiest woman alive because I knew (and still know) beyond any doubt that my heart is with him and that no other possible place exists for me separate from him. Every detail of our wedding was done in a way to reflect us as a couple and our journey to the day we vowed to always be husband and wife. It truly was the best day of my life up until that point. I could not have asked for a more perfect wedding day. Since then, every day I have with Matt is a new best day.

Our first dance to "Allelujah" (see previous blog post
for back story about this song selection.)

I always heard how much of a challenge marriage is, especially during the first year when there are so many adjustments to be made. But honestly, it was the easiest adjustment ever for us. We always talk about how natural it feels to be united as husband and wife. Every day, I wake up happy. Every night, when I close my eyes for sleep, I am happy. There is no other way to describe life with Matt except to say it is complete contentment with him, with our love, and with our life. We have spent the past 365 days together -- and it has been the best 365 days of my life, and I can't wait to do it all over again for a life time.

Newlyweds!

I am so thankful and blessed to have my best friend and to have our simple, everyday life together that we dreamed of for so long. I wouldn't change it one bit for a moment. Happy anniversary, Matt! Can't wait to get started on year number two!

Finally husband and wife.

All wedding photos by Hope Photography.