It’s been 5 years since I said “I do” to the man of my dreams. A man who is patient, kind, steadfast, caring, servant hearted, loving, and wise. A man who gives me a glimpse into Jesus’ heart daily, and it is such a sweet blessing.
The past 5 years have brought college graduation. getting new jobs, starting 2 businesses, moving, buying a couple cars, buying a house, and traveling the world.
Year 1. Our favorite date night activity this year was going to Cafe Diem for smoothies. 
We lived in a 1+ bedroom apartment, we went to college full time, we each worked 20-30 hours a week, AND I started my photography business. Life was crazy. It was hard, but it was SO sweet, and SO very good. 
Year 2.
Phew, this year. It brings tears to my eyes every time I think of it.
2014 was one of the roughest years of my life spiritually, but it also turned into being one of the sweetest years of my life spiritually. It started in a dark place. I was believing some incredibly sad lies, such as the Father wasn’t there for me. That he had turned His back from me. That it was silly of me to follow Jesus because he didn’t really care about me, or what I was going through.
I took a wrong turn somewhere, down a dark path, and I let those lies take deep root in my heart. I began lusting after this “ideal life” I thought I wanted that didn’t include the Father.
Our marriage, of course, took the brunt of this. But thankfully I married a man who is incredibly steadfast. One who continued to be patient with me, continued to try to woo me, continued to be like Jesus.
Thankfully, God had a big big plan for me. One that would completely wreck my heart. One that included attending a conference for Christian creative women, and it would change the trajectory of my entire life. God hadn’t abandoned me. He showed me that He was right alongside of me. That He hurt for me and the circumstances that I was going through.
Year 3. A sweet year full of healing, learning about Joy, and starting new adventures. We traveled to Maui, we moved, and we launched another business (one that has changed our lives).
Ty never questions my crazy ideas. He supports them 100% and it’s one of the biggest blessings because I’m kind of full of them 
Year 4.
Another year filled with Jesus’ healing and restoration. We started marriage counseling as a form of self care, not because things were bad, but because we wanted things to be the best they could be. Deciding to do marriage counseling has been the best decision we’ve ever made as a couple (and the best decision I could have ever made as an individual).
We learned (and are still learning) about how much the Father loves us, about His identity as a healer & restorer, about grace, communication, boundaries, our identities, about how important our marriage is; how it’s okay to say no to GOOD things because it means we are saying yes to BETTER things, how to love and serve each other well, and how to honor and glorify our Father through our marriage.
This past year of marriage has definitely been the sweetest and best year of marriage. But I cannot wait to see how it much better it gets.
And now year 5.
The past 5 years have had seasons sorrow, seasons of learning, and seasons of joy. They’ve been hard and challenging, but they’ve been SOMUCHFUN.
However, I’m not sure if they’ll top this next year.
The year we become foster parents.
I have a feeling we are in for a ride that will be crazier, harder, more challenging, and more fun than we’ve ever experienced, but there’s no one else in this world I would rather experience it with.
Love you, Ty. More than I could ever put in words. Happy Anniversary.
