Six years

Six years ago today, I married Ryan. In Guatemala. In a ceremony that I would pay dearly to have recorded. I actually wish I had that on tape more than even our real wedding ceremony that took place exactly a year later. In America. The only proof of that first ceremony is in a single picture and the memories of the few that were there. But it was the beginning.

We were on a mission trip to Guatemala. Our fearless leader, who is like a father to me, had been giving me grief for months that I was an old maid (you know, I had been graduated from college over a year and wasn't married yet...oh, the horrors! :). So he decided that he needed to get me married off. To whoever. Thanks, Kev. He originally wanted me to "marry" Ryan's best friend, who was also with us. He, however, had a girlfriend, and really was not my type (love ya, Mike! :). So our last night there, I told Ryan about what was going on and asked him if he would marry me instead. He agreed. (Please keep in mind that this week was really the first time I had talked to him. And he was THREE years younger than me!)

Our pastor, who was also there, refused to be a part of the whole thing. Kev said he would only do it if we agreed to actually kiss. Ryan said, "I'm game if she's game." To which I said, "Whatever." So there was a ceremony that included things such as "I promise to always do whatever he tells me to do" and other lame things that Kev made up as he went. And at the end, Ryan kissed me. You can see in the one picture we have of it that I totally wasn't expecting him to do that. And then we locked ourselves in Ryan's room. And looked at each other. And laughed. All while a crowd of people banged on the door, and I waited for Ryan to kiss me again. Which he didn't. So I gave up and we went back out.

About a week later, Ryan called me to ask me on a date. I said yes. (Duh.)

(By the way, I waited on that next kiss for MONTHS. Two and a half, to be exact. Not that I'm bitter. :)

About three months later, Ryan asked me to marry him. I said yes. (Double duh.)

We got married for real exactly one year after that ceremony in Guatemala.

I love him more every day. We have been through so much together in the five years we've been married. Ryan has gotten three degrees and I've gotten one to add to the one I already had. We bought a house. We bought Ryan a used car. And then a new one. We got a dog. We've gone through one whole pregnancy and had our first baby. We've gone through the loss of another baby. We've made it on one salary for a year. And this is still just the beginning.

I can't imagine going through life with anyone else by my side. I don't want to. It seems that every day there's something else I realize about us that God so perfectly orchestrated.

I love you, baby daddy. Can't wait to see what's next.