Another year has gone by

Two years. Yesterday, James and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary. I can hardly believe it. And boy are we celebrating! I'm turning everything we are doing this week into an anniversary present! Genius!  I mean, why not celebrate for as long as you can? IT truly is a wonderful blessing...marriage and the fact that we are both still alive after 2 years.

We spent Saturday night in Venice at a hotel filled with so many luxuries- a bath tub, a robe, slippers, a view of canals and rooftop gardens, and an American breakfast. And the whole day Sunday consisted of naps, reading books on the couch, and watching a romantic movie. It was perfect. Soaking up that time.

Then, on our actual anniversary, my sister and her friend Kalyn flew over to visit!! Well, they are going to a study abroad session in Florence, but wanted to come spend a few days with me before they headed down south...Mary Kathryn also pointed out that has spent every anniversary with us so far! We clearly need to keep this trend going. Even though it was a rainy day, we spent the afternoon having tea at a friends house, waiting for James to come home...well I was waiting- anxiously waiting. I just wanted to spend the day with him- the whole day, and not share. But work calls. He came home earlier than I had expected, and we ate salmon, orzo salad, and asparagus on our china with the new chargers that I had gotten from Nove. It wasn't much-really easy to fix, but it was sweet, and special and nothing burnt. Always a plus.

Lastly- we have been given a 4day weekend!!! Woohoo!!! Thank you Army! And because we are SO last minute, we are still looking for something to do....typical. But I'm still considering it an anniversary trip...its more fun that way.

I'll be honest- the thing I love about birthdays/celebrations in general are presents...but what's even better is the reminiscing that these occasions bring about. We all do it naturally- we sit and we think about 2 years ago, or what has happened over the past year. Sometimes it's sad, overwhelming, or a straight up whirlwind, but you are never in the same place. You have always grown in some way shape or form. As I sit and reminisce over that day- May 21st, 2 years ago, I remember little things- I remember being stuck at the bridal luncheon without a car, all of my girlfriends gathering around to take pictures, to keep me from getting wet when the rain started, to pray over me. I remember my sister and brother holding my hands as Chandler sang, Never Alone. I remember listening to her voice- just as I had imagined it. I remember the doors opening and seeing James and way too many eyes looking in my direction. I remember my brother giving him my hand and looking into his eyes, thinking, "Oh my gosh, this is really happening". And I remember being called, Mrs. Simpson. Then the reception started and my memory fails :) But where my memory fails, I have beautiful, beautiful pictures to fill in the gap and remind me of the 375 people that decided to come and support this crazy, young, high-school sweetheart couple.

This past year- straight up whirlwind. From this time last year to now, James graduated IBOLC, went to Ranger School graduated Ranger school, we spent a wonderful amount of time in Georgia with each other and friends, thought he we going to RSLC, got denied, packed up, spent Thanksgiving with family and friends, said our good-byes, hopped on a plane, darted to Italy, and have been traveling around ever since! It seems like a blink- seriously, why is time slipping away!!

This next year- will consist of few days together and many days apart, but I know there is a plan. I know next year I will not be the same, I will have grown, I will be stronger. And I hope to enjoy all of the time we do have together and I can't wait to see how our love will grow and maintain while we are apart.

Cheers to the next year and the 80 more to come!