Celebrating Five Years

A few weeks ago we celebrated our fifth anniversary. It seems like every year we say, "Wow! I can't believe it has been ____ years!" And it felt like that even more this year but I guess that it is the way time works. Looking back, we decided that it has been a wonderful 5 years (not that that was really in question). We have had some great and interesting life experiences together and those experiences just wouldn't have been the same without each other. I guess that is one of the things I love most about marriage...you get to hang out and experience everything with your best friend.

Some of you know that we have an anniversary tradition of breaking a glass each year. This started when I accidentally broke a glass on our first anniversary and it has continued on. That first year I became a little obsessed with starting a tradition on our anniversary so weeks before I kept thinking and thinking and came up with nothing. Well, right before going to dinner I had an idea...maybe every year we could drink coffee out of some special glasses that we bought on our honeymoon. I know, a little stupid but it was down to the wire. So as I'm pouring steaming hot coffee into our beautiful Mexican hand-blown glass....it shattered all over the counter. The tradition changed to breaking a glass instead.

This was the winner (or loser) this year. And after 4 years of breaking one of our actual glasses, this year I opted out for a thrift store purchase...a bit more practical.

Recently I was walking through North Park and realized that I had never taken a picture of the staircase where we got engaged. Well, here it is. It is a staircase by a river path and it was a special spot for us in college...a place where we would go to talk, reflect, pray and figure out our lives so it was a fitting place to begin the whole journey. I'm also pretty sure it is a special hangout for nearby high school students but for sketchier reasons.

I think these are the actual steps where it all went down.

And the path leading back to campus.

It was great to look back on these past five years. I feel lucky to have such a wonderful husband and a marriage that is growing, deepening and gets better with each year. Here's to another great 5 (okay, maybe a few more than that!) Love you Matt!