One year down, forever to go!

Believe it or not, Josh & I recently celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary.  I can't believe how fast this year has gone by and how incredibly blessed we have been.  We celebrated by eating a delicious dinner at Bottega Restaurant and staying the night at Ross Bridge Resort, complete with a couple's massage!  We did eat the top tier of our cake, but it wasn't awesome... I am proud to say I kept Josh's gift a secret for several weeks before our anniversary, which was tough because I was so excited about it.  One of my best friends is a manager at Coach and she helped me get a limited edition Coach wallet that was made from vintage baseball gloves.  It was a great surprise!  Josh got me the anniversary band that fits beside my engagement ring :)

I've often heard that the 1st year of marriage is the hardest...  Fortunately for us, it has been a breeze.  Here are some things I've learned over the past year:
*Say "I love you" more than enough.  Better yet, say WHY you love each other!  It helps you appreciate the little things you do for each other.  We started a journal where we write one reason we love each other every night before bed.
*Make sure you're on the same page with financial matters.  We discussed how we would handle our money early on, and it has helped avoid a lot of disagreements along the road.
*Sponsor a Compassion International child!  That has been one of the most fun (and meaningful) things we've done together this year.
*Enjoy doing little things together, like grocery shopping and running errands.  It's more fun if you appreciate that time together.
*Don't be afraid to cry in front of your husband.  He's the one you will lean on for the rest of your life... it's okay to let your guard down sometimes.  Especially with really important matters, like when you bring home his LEAST favorite Girl Scout cookies as a surprise and realize you don't know what his favorite flavor is :)

I think that's all for now...
Love from the not-so-newlyweds anymore!