Anniversary

Today is Bryce's and my 9th anniversary. It's strange to think that we've been married for that long. With much of the world today, 9 years is a lifetime to be married, but I still feel like we're babies in the marriage department. My sister will have been married for twice as long as I have this year.

Bryce got up this morning and said, "Hey, we're 9 this year." I think that's actually a good way to describe a marriage. It's almost like we're children continuing to grow and mature together. We comprehend and understand more now than we did when we were first married. We've had experiences that have helped us grow closer together and grow stronger. I think of how many in the world today so easily and readily throw away marriages, usually in the infancy of their marriage, and don't try to work things out. While in some cases it's definitely the best thing for them, I believe that in many cases, if they worked a little harder, they'd get through it stronger and wiser. They'd have grown up a few years.

In our 9 short years together, we've added a few pounds, 4 kids, and one big dog. We've lived in 2 states, 5 cities, lived in 3 apartments, 3 houses, and 6 different wards. We've either used or owned 5 different cars and still have 2 of them, although one has just sat in the garage for over a year. Together we've had 8 different jobs. We've gained two sisters-in-law and 19 neices and nephews, with 2 more (that we know of) on the way. We've also lost 2 uncles, 2 grandparents, and two nephews.

So all in all, we've had a pretty good life so far. I look forward to going through what's ahead hand in hand with my best friend.