Today my husband and I have been together for 8 years. It almost seems impossible for it to have been so many years. How does time move so fast? When did all of this change happen? And how? I guess time flies when you’re having fun. It also flies by when you’re busy, you know, living life. I was 18 years old and Kris was 19 years old when we started dating. We were children who thought we actually had life figured out for the most part. I know, it’s laughable, but doesn’t every 18 year old think their miraculous “legally adult” age makes them knowlegable about life. Go ahead and roll your eyes, then laugh at how hilarious and ridiculous we were at 18 years old LOL.
We were just a couple of college students who were counting the money in their bank accounts praying we had a enough to buy the Wendy’s we didn’t need and still be able to participate in weekend campus festivities. Ahhh yes, the young and in love college life. We spent a lot of days eating made to order meals from Loyola’s “Rambler Room” using my “Rambler bucks” considering we didn’t have any real bucks to eat elsewhere haha. Thankfully, the food in the Rambler Room was always good, and not cafeteria food.
I believe one of the greatest and hardest parts of being together from such a young age, is changing and growing with the same person over time. We both look back at how we thought about certain ideas and can’t believe we ever thought it to be okay. Don’t even get us started on the horrible fashion choices we made. We have way too many pictures to prove it too. For example:
I’m sure you’ve noticed Kris’ sliced eyebrows, and overly huge and colorful clothing. Now focus on my cheap but huge earrings, hair ribbon, and costume jewlelry. And we thought the other person was SO attractive in this attire too. That’s real love! LOL.
But out of all of the changes and growing we did as individuals, we somehow figured out how to grow individually, but with each other in the process. Sometimes we went through growth spurts simutaneously and other times we were on completely opposite schedules. As with any relationship, especially young relationsips, we hit quite a few bumps in the road. From learning who our friends were to learning how to love unconditionally, it took a lot of tests that we sometimes failed. Thankfully, in this love, we each found a person who believes in second and third chances to pass some of the tests we always knew they could with some extra encouragment. The beauty of multiple tests is, when you pass, the triumph that follows always makes it worth it.
Our tests and triumphs are what make us who we are. For us in particular, it’s what makes us, Brie and Kris. I often hear people say “I wouldn’t change a thing..” about their past life encounters, but I don’t think this is true. I believe if we were able to change some things in our lives we would go back and make the decision to erase all disappointment, hurt and pain. However, what we learn over time is, changing the past wouldn’t have taught us any lessons. It is because we know what disappointment, hurt and pain feel like that we fully appreciated what happiness, joy, and thankfulness feel like. Without the bad days we can’t appreciate the good ones. I think this is the one particular lesson we have continued to learn and appreciate over time, and even more so now in marriage.
A marriage, and child later, we are always learning new ways to love one another and challenge one another. We’re learning 8 years later nothing is ever the same. We already know year 8 will be different from every year past and every year to come. However, the one thing that remains the same 8 years later, and always will, is unconditonal love is always the correct answer to any test thrown our way.
I’m so happy I get to spend another year unconditionally loving someone who loves me unconditionally.
Happy anniversary babe! I love you.
*picture on the left is from our first date and the picture on the right is Christmas 2014*
Brie <3
[08.31.15]
