Two

It's crazy to believe it, but it's been two whole years since we walked down the aisle.  Yesterday, Gil and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary, so we're officially no longer newlyweds. 

I actually find anniversaries kind of sad.  The morbid part of me thinks that we're counting up from our wedding, but also with every year, we diminish the number of years we have left.  Still, it's nice to look back and remember a great day while celebrating the fact that we've made it so far.

Going to the Chapel...

The funny thing about weddings, is that so much time goes into preparing for them, and then they're over so quickly.  I barely remember anything on that day, not the speeches, not what people were wearing, and not even what I was thinking while waiting to say my vows.  (I think it was somewhere along the lines of, "Wow, we're really doing this."

Year 2 was good year overall, less eventful than Year 1 (thankfully we didn't have to move at all), and I think we really settled into this life together.  I have nothing but high hopes for the coming year.

Here's to you, Gil!


PS  In case you are wondering, my husband is very hesitant about photos of himself going on the Internet.  I can put some on Facebook, but as this is an open blog, I avoid anything with his face, hence all the back- and hand-shots of him.  :-)

Reader Input Requested: What Did You Do With Your Wedding Dress?

Before I got engaged, I thought spending a lot of money on a wedding dress was ridiculous.  Seriously, what's the point?  You only wear it once!  My best friend rented her wedding dress, with fabulous results (half the cost and you don't have to clean or store it), so I planned on doing the same.  The only glitch was time and location:  Our engagement was just over 4 months, and the only dress renting store I knew of was 4 hours away.  I thought I'd get a used dress, but I decided to try a few new ones on and ended up falling in love with this beauty:

Anais Collection (now Coco Anais)106

Of course, I caved and bought it (though I had the sparkly sequin belt replaced by ribbon, much to the amusement of the wedding store; apparently I'm the only bride ever to want LESS bling).  I loved my dress and am so glad I listened to my mom and bought it.

Gratuitous wedding dress photo

Isn't the back so pretty!?

A few months ago, we had a guest speaker at our church who challenged us on how much STUFF we have sitting around our houses.  It's true that most of us have clothes we don't wear, kitchen gadgets we've never used, and books we'll never read.  I thought I'd purged a lot of stuff after moving twice in a year, but could still do more.  Sitting there in the pew, I was reminded suddenly of my wedding dress, in our basement closet gathering dust (well, the garment bag is gathering dust at least).  What if I sold it and gave the money to a worthy cause?  I thought of the verses in Matthew 6:  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Readers, this is where I get real with you:  I went home and looked up options for my dress on the internet.... and then I left the links open in my browser for weeks without using them.  My dress is still in the basement, and when I think about selling it, I get emotional.  I know it's silly.  I know any future daughter will likely not want to use my dress for her own wedding.  I know it how unlikely I am to ever wear it again... yet I hesitate, grasping in my hands this earthly treasure.  Maybe today will be the day I finally let go...

This is where I want your input, especially those of you who have been married for longer than I have:  What did you do with your wedding dress?  Did you do a trash-the-dress session?  Did you sell it?  Do you ever try it on just to feel like a princess again? :-)

One

It's hard to believe it, but as of today, Gil and I have been married for a whole year.  Honestly, it feels like the past 12 months have soared by.  I remember thinking in the midst of our house-hunting search that one day, it would feel like our time renting the condo was a tiny blip in our life, and it already does.

This year has had its challenges, but through it all I have never once looked back and regretted giving up my Ottawa life to marry Gil.  He has been my rock and my best friend in his own quiet way, and I am so blessed to have him.

We are celebrating quietly since, of course, my husband ended up being on call.  I'm hoping we can squeeze in a nice dinner out some time this week, but the most important thing for me is just taking time to remember how we got here and to celebrate the blessing our marriage has been.  Of course, it's an added bonus that a few minutes ago, the doorbell rang and I received a delivery of beautiful roses that my husband had ordered.  Nice work, Gil!

Edit:  We did go out to dinner!  Gil emailed me at 7:15pm to say he would be able to get away from work in time for dinner, and had made reservations.  We went to a great Italian place and came home to enjoy coffee and a cupcake from the same bakery that supplied our wedding.

Looking forward to many more fabulous years together!

Yay!!

There is nothing major to report, other than the fact that THIS came in the mail today...

I'm so excited!!!  This scrapbook was the product of many, many hours spent at Starbucks in front of my computer early this month as I tried to get it done before the end of Shutterfly's holiday sale.

On another note, although there's been a slight hiatus, I have a few more posts planned in my waiting series, so you'll just have to, well, wait a few days until I polish them up.