Today marks the completion of our first decade as husband and wife. It's unbelievable how quickly the last ten years have flown by, but equally amazing how much we've grown, changed, and accomplished together.
Alex and I first started house hunting the week after we returned home following our honeymoon. Our house hunt took us through many neighborhoods in and around Washington, DC, including Georgetown and Cleveland Park, but we're both still so happy with our decision to put down roots in Old Town Alexandria.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that, nearly ten years after the purchase of our first home, we'd still be working on "fixing it up." But this journey of moving to a new city without friends or family, having to rely solely on one another for support, and the process of building our lives, careers, network, and home is one that I wouldn't trade.
In the last ten years we've had many ups and a few downs. We've loved and lost, laughed and cried. And in the worst moments of DIY meltdowns or best moments of personal and professional success, I can't think of a better person to stand by my side.
When I broke my front tooth doing laundry, you were there to mock me drive me to the dentist.
When we learned our home had massive structural damage and was, in essence, being held up by two 2x4s, you talked me off the ledge.
When I drag you purse shopping, you smile and offer input.
When I have crazy decorating ideas like hand painting a harlequin pattern on our walls or building me a "secret garden" gate, you strap on your tool belt.
The day we said goodbye to Oliver, you were my support. And two days later, when I informed you that we needed to give a home to a sweet black sharpei pug mix, you agreed.
You travel the world with me, exploring cities and countries near and far. From navigating Puerto Rican mangrove-lined streams in pitch darkness to getting pulled over by the Swedish police for speeding, you're up for any adventure.
You tolerate my general impatience, embrace my unending devotion for our fur babies, and love me for who I am.
For this, and many more reasons, I'm so grateful to share my life with you.
Tonight we'll spend a quiet, romantic evening with 45,000 other screaming baseball fans at the Washington Nationals game, because after all, marriage is about compromise. :-)
What gesture, big or small, has really touched you in a way that made you realize just how much your partner/spouse/significant other loves you? For me, it always comes back to homemade gifts. I mean really, what could possibly say "I love you" more than custom wainscoting?
