Friday, April 22, 2011

Happy Anniversary!

Today, April 22, 2011, marks the fifth anniversary since I said "I do" to one of the most amazing men I know.  Even though Brandon and I first began dating about 5 years before getting married, that was a big day for us in 2006 (as expected!).  Brandon was already in the Navy and stationed in Japan at the time, but came home on leave for about 2 short weeks.  This allowed for final fittings on his suit, rehearsal, the actual wedding, the reception, then a short couple of days in Oklahoma for our honeymoon at a cabin the woods (quite romantic!).  He left again a few days after we returned from our honeymoon.  I saw him again Christmas 2006 for another couple of weeks.  The next time I saw him was December 2007 when he returned to the states to take me to Japan. Those first almost two years we had a marriage via phone, emails, and webcam conversations.  Tough times, as you can imagine!!  After moving to Japan, I still was only able to see him a total of about 3 months during the 2008 year, but at least I saw him more than the first 2 years.  In 2009, we left Japan and came here to Virginia, where we were finally able to spend more than a month together at a time.  We had been married for 3.5 years and never had that opportunity.  We both had learning curves to adjust to being a "real" married couple, but here we are today! 

We have been through so much more than time apart in our short 5 years, more than most people know.  Things have not always been easy, not always happy, and not always the best, but I wouldn't change a thing now.  Over the years, we have grown so much closer and more in love than I ever thought possible.  We are so much happier now than ever before as well.  I know I talk a lot about Sophie to people, on Facebook, and here on my blog, but Brandon is the love of my life that I really should give more credit to.  He is my rock, my best friend, and my soul mate.  I look forward to many, many more years with him!!

I don't really show a lot of people pictures from our wedding because I don't have any of them printed.  I also cannot find the CDs of the pictures.  (Maybe Shelby could help me out with that!!!)  Here are a few that I have found.  It was such a special day and one that I will always remember.  I love you, Brandon!

Brandon and I at our reception

Richard walking me down the aisle

Husband and wife

Our first dance

Cutting the cake

He was a lot nicer to me than I was to him.  :)

1 comment:

Andrea Hamilton said...

Ahhh! Happy Anniversary! So glad the Lord led you to Japan and the church there. Lovely pictures!