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Thoughts On Our 8th Anniversary

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Today is our 8th anniversary! Blake and I met in 2008. So while we got married in 2010, we've now been part of each other's lives for a decade. I remember seeing other couples celebrating their 10th anniversary and thinking just how far ahead that would be. Now it's sort of staring us in the face! 

We always start celebrating our anniversary early. On our first anniversary I'm pretty sure we gave each other gifts in December because we couldn't wait until February! I kind of love that though. Anniversaries are something we always made a big deal about in our family growing up. I had so much fun decorating cakes for my mom and dad. They ended up hideous, but my parents loved it. 

This year we are keeping it semi-low key because we are taking a bigger trip in June. Spring is just a little too busy this year, so we will just keep celebrating on into summer! No complaints here. 

I always get super nostalgic around this time, so I dug up a few pictures that tell our story:
On our first official date! Disney // January 2009
Hanging with friends at Olive Garden // October 2009
After he proposed! // October 3, 2009

Our Wedding Shower // February 7, 2010
Our Wedding! // February 27, 2010
Honeymooning in Jamaica // March 2010 
Did you know that each anniversary has a traditional gift associated with it? Year 1 is paper...year 5 is wood...etc. Like most traditions, the idea of giving someone a year themed gift hasn't really translated into 2018. But, just for fun I like to read the descriptions and find out why each year has been designated as that theme. 

Year number 8 is the bronze anniversary. While I don't intend to give my husband a bronze statue as a gift, the description of the year fully resonated with me:

Blended of two elements bronze molds into a single entity that is durable enough to last a lifetime. Much alike this long term marriage where the blending of two personalities united by common interests and goals their loyalty to one another is by this point solidifying their trust into a strong and enduring bond. (source)

This is exactly how I feel! There is so much love and newness when you first get married. It's great and essential to start your life together. I just had NO idea how much more you can love a person after time. I no longer feel like my own person. My identity is completely fused together with his just like bronze. 

This past year was SO interesting for us. After reading my post last year again, I realized just how much had changed. We had a tougher beginning to 2016, so we ended that year with some lifestyle changes to fix it. So 2017 was all about reaping the benefits of those changes! It was definitely a harvest season. (Part of the reason I made my mission statement for 2018! It works!)

Last May we moved to a new congregation to be more useful. That was definitely our big adventure in year 7. It was one of those things we had the completely wrong idea about. I thought we'd be helping them, but it was the opposite. We were the ones to grow. Funny how that works. It's ALWAYS a good thing to step out of your comfort zone. Of course, it's even better when you have someone to jump with.

When I look at those kids in the pictures above I'm just mesmerized. How on earth could that be us?! Despite that weird disconnect, I'm SO happy with who those 2 became. Blake and I have complete opposite personalities, but we absolutely have the same mission in life and those goals make me feel more than ever that we are a team. I really think he is the best thing about me.

Happy Anniversary Blake! 
Original Post

Leave a comment below if you feel like time is slipping through your fingers! Do you feel weird when you look at old pictures of yourself? Do you pay attention to the themes of each anniversary? If you do, do you feel like they ring true to your relationship?

24 comments

  1. Happy anniversary!

    Felicity | http://oliverandmoose.com

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  2. Congratulations! What a huge milestone! Happy Anniversary! xAllie www.theallthatglittersblog.com

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  3. So sweet! Happy Anniversary!
    I love that your first date was Disney. That's the coolest.
    And look at how he's looking at you in that Olive Garden picture!! Ah, ALLL the heart-eyes!!

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    1. Haha, it was actually a great place to have a first date! There is plenty to do, and it's pretty casual. Disney is very special to us now!
      And, yes, that Olive Garden picture makes me smile! I only just stumbled across it recently.

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  4. Happy, happy anniversary! Hope it's the best!

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    1. Thank you Miranda! Don't blink, you're 8th wedding anniversary will be here before you know it!

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  5. Happy anniversary! 8 years is quite an accomplishment!! Love the meaning of the bronze!!

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    1. Thanks Laura! I agree, I love the bronze sentiment.

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  6. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I love your thoughts on how you've grown together as a couple and what this year symbolizes for you two. Cheers!

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    1. Thanks Gentry! I do always get sentimental about our anniversary! I love thinking about our journey.

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  7. Happy, Happy Anniversary! You are such a great couple - all of the photos are great - it is so apparent in the second one how much he adores you. We did the paper etc gifts but it didn't last long (I know that sounds awful) - we ended up doing our own thing in the end - but I wish I's stuck to the traditional and kept it up now! What you wrote about Bronze was beautiful. Have a wonderful day - Europafox x

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    1. Thank you!! I had fun looking through old pictures to share. I liked the idea of doing the traditional gifts, but my husband is very particular about what he likes, so I didn't want to buy something just for the sake of the theme and he not like it. We don't really do surprises anymore! We both have Amazon wish lists, haha.

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  8. Happy anniversary! I hardly recognize you in the old pics. Too sweet!

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    1. Good I'm glad you said that! One of my friends said we look exactly the same and I cringed! Thank you Steph!

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  9. I had to laugh because I actually looked up what the traditional gift was when looking for your present. I’m always amazed at how we find ourselves on the same path at the same time. :-)

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    1. We speak the same language Laura! That much I'm sure of. Love you and thanks for celebrating with us!

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  10. Happy anniversary!! The throwback pics are so cute!

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  11. Happy anniversary!! You guys have totally blossomed as a couple!! Here's to many more!

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    1. Aww that's so sweet Julie! Thank you! I feel the same way.

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  12. What a sweet post. Happy anniversary! 8 years is so long! I wish the absolute best for your relationship :)

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  13. CONGRATS! What a fun decade of memories you've made! Here's to the future!

    ​xx katie // a touch of teal

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Hi friends! I'm Kristen, and this is the Life and Style of an early 30's Floridian living the Best Life Ever, with her husband and three pugs. Runner | Avid Reader | Small Shop Owner

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