1st Anniversary

 

July 15th marked our 1st anniversary. Its been one crazy year. We have gone through and learned so much. We pray that this next year will be a bit more gentle on us. :) Even though this past year was painful, confusing, scary, and pretty much hell....there were moments of happiness, joy, and pure bliss. Our trials were health related and our relationship only deepened and became more precious. Married life is awesome and I am so happy to be traveling this crazy hard and awesome road with Christopher.

 

Here we are, on top of a mountain at 10,000 feet, celebrating one year of marriage. It's a rather symbolic picture. We have been through some dark and deep valleys this past year, and just now we have been able to reach the heights that once seemed so far away.

 



 

When pondering our marriage, one naturally goes and looks back at their wedding pictures. In all honestly, our wedding was not the happiest time in our lives. We were thrilled to be finally married. But so many circumstances surrounding our wedding were painful and heartbreaking. We are so grateful to have had such a beautiful wedding and so many people helped us make it happen. I never knew my heart could be so happy and be totally broken all at the same time...not until that day. In a nutshell, Chris's new job as a pilot would make it difficult for him to make it to the wedding we were planning in Pennsylvania. There were many unknowns and many more extra stresses. We ended up getting married in Oregon. My parents and my maid of honor were the only ones from PA that could make it. My beloved brother and grandparents could not come. That broke my heart into so many pieces, I still cry over that. Chris and I both are still mourning over how our wedding ended up. Many do not know this...but Chris held me up during most of our wedding service. Around that time my health was declining rapidly and I had no idea what was going on. It was scary. I remember odds and ends from the days surrounding our wedding . We are slowly working through the pain from that time. But, through all of this, Chris was so loving and kind towards me. We hold each other close and seek healing and joy among the hard times.

 

Chris and I were so happy to get married. So, that part of our wedding we thoroughly enjoyed. We don't regret that one bit. :-)

 

Here are a small selection of happy memories from that day. All the pictures were taken by Peter Mahar .