Three years later, that was always our slogan. We met my freshman year of college and it took us three whole years to realize that we should probably date (after a dare that we should probably kiss, just to see what it would be like.) Three years after that, we got married on a beautiful August day in Duluth, surrounded by the people we love more than anything. Now, three years since we celebrated our wedding anniversary, I am sitting in our bed and typing this in our beautiful home. When did we grow up? I still feel like a college freshman when I am with you. I used to dream up these posts months in advance and think of all of the ways I could commemorate the last year spent together, but this year, it totally snuck up on me, this day strikes at a time where I am nostalgic but at a loss for the right thing to say. It seems as though every year we celebrate something big: a new dog, a marathon ran, a new home, or a new car… but this year, I am coming up short in thinking of what big mountain we climbed together.

This past year taught me a lot about myself (which left me wondering who in their right mind would promise to spend forever with me.) I have always said that I married up when I married you and I truly mean it. I learned that I am a driven (sometimes too much) workaholic who never stops chasing, there’s no one I would rather chase dreams with than you. I learned that I suck at saying “no” and that I am always on to the next goal to accomplish, there’s no better human to push me than you. This year I realized that I can sometimes be a challenge to live with and how truly lucky I am that you continue to push and cheer and support and love me. I am blown away by your inner drive, your routines, your love for the pups, and the way you make everyone feel like they are the only one in the world (among a million other mushy things.) This year we experienced some tough loss together and we were forced to lean on one another while we both felt lost. We hug each other tighter because of this. This year we laughed (a lot) together as we started to figure out this whole homeowner thing (and realized we suck at DIY.) This year we found our groove in work and life and how all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together. This year we celebrated some great achievements, snuggled up in our king size bed, struggled with how to potty train a dog, figured out how to hang a gallery wall of photos, and still said the things we were thankful for at the end of every night.

Instead of some epic online proclamation of love on our anniversary, instead of celebrating some “mountainous” achievement, I want you to know this: I think of our vows – every single day. I almost have them memorized and I really do try to live each and every word as I figure out how to be a decent wife. I know I don’t always screw the caps on things and that my laundry baskets never seem to get put away. I know that I have shoes all over the house and that I take over every inch of our table in my feeble attempts to create art. I know that I am messy and I don’t scrub the stove the right way… but what I know beyond all of that is that you love me for who I am (flaws and all) and that’s all I really need as we celebrate three amazing years together as husband and wife. There is absolutely no one else I would want to do life with, real, raw, authentic life. There is no one I would rather wake up next to, and there is certainly no one else who would make the promises that you made on our wedding day three years ago. Some years might not hold big mountains or a bulleted list of reasons to celebrate, some years are just going to be great because we spent them together – learning and living. This is one of those and I’d like to think we celebrate everyday we wake up next to one another.  I still vow all of those things (and more) and I promise to cling to you a little tighter each night because what we have is a gift that some will never experience in their lifetime.

Three years later, babe, three years later.

We are off to Chicago for the next few days to celebrate! Don’t worry, the blog will still be hopping as usual.

Photographs courtesy of our dear friends: on3design 

There’s more where that came from, click a link to continue:

• Tales From a Weekly Wedding Crasher
• Behind a Happy Marriage
• Tyson + Libby – Madison Club Wedding
• 730 Days