Still the one I love

Engagement pic.

Six years ago this week Chris and I went on our first date.  I reminded Chris of this fact last night, because of course he doesn't remember the date. (I didn't either.  I had to look it up in my journal.)  Anyway, on March 21, 2004 we went on our first date.  First we went to my roommate's harp concert (remember Mal?) because I had already committed to go.  Then we went to Guitars Unplugged at the Smith Field House.  Two months later we were engaged and two months after that we were married.  I was only 19 (yikes!) and Chris was 22.  Every time I think about the month that we dated and the three months of long distance that followed, I get giddy.  It's funny to think of a time when I didn't know Chris like I do now, and it's hard to imagine that we were ever "not together".

When my sister was engaged Chris said to me one night, "I just want you to know that I really love you."  Now obviously I know he loves me, but then he said, "I just don't want you to look at your sister and Trevor and wish that we were still newly weds like that."  I was impressed that he had even considered that I might be feeling that way.  But honestly, that thought hadn't even crossed my mind.  I don't miss being newlywed.  I don't wish we were still in the honeymoon stage of our relationship.  

In the past 6 years a lot has happened. We got engaged and got married. We both completed 3 years of college and graduated.  I've been pregnant 5 times.  We've started raising 2 kids.  We've moved 8 times.  Chris passed his CPA.  We've survived busy season (almost) 3 times.  We've been on vacations, dates, and family outings.  We've gone to church every Sunday and to the temple almost every month.  We bought our first home.  We wrestled with the kids and danced in the living room.  You get the picture: we've experienced married life.

My point is this: while we may not be in the giddy first days of dating or the honeymoon stage of our marriage, I wouldn't trade this point in my life for the world.  Yes, I had to run to the bathroom and puke right when Chris was getting ready to kiss me good-night last night.  No, I don't see him often at all, and when I do it's night time and I usually feel yucky.  But I still love him.  In fact, I love him even more than I did back then.  And I never would have thought that a casual date 6 years ago to an acoustic guitar concert would have lead to all this!