Today the Fossiers celebrate three years of marriage and I wanted to steel a moment away to wish my guy happy anniversary.
Will we ever fully realize the depths of the commitment we made to one another three years ago? I don't know. I do know, however, that there is only one person that I could ever do life with, and that's Brad Fossier. Our life is messy and sometimes uncomfortable, but having Brad smiling at my side has made dealing with the hard parts sweet. He's seen me at my best and my worst and still thinks I'm a good person. He supports me, encourages me, and challenges me to be a better human being. He continues to teach me the truest meaning of the word love. And, above all, he prays for me. He puts the state of my soul at the top of his list and cherishes my heart more than anything else. That one quality alone is a gift I hope I never take for granted.
Yes, three years ago we had a dream wedding. We walked hand in hand under hundred year old oak trees and danced our hearts out surrounded by our dearest family and friends. It was the perfect day. But the most beautiful part was that God was glorified through it all. He is the reason why our marriage has been so filled with peace and joy. How could we do this without Him? Marriage is challenging. It's a choice. And I cannot go on writing about it without giving our Lord the praise He rightly deserves.
Honestly, it's the ordinary stuff that makes marriage so special. We knew entering into this day that our earthly and eternal happiness rested on how well we lived out our service to one another. What that actually looks like in our everyday lives isn't some earth-shattering revelation. It's found in a profound simplicity of living for something greater than yourself. It's...Sacrifice. Hand holding. Tears. Chasing dreams. Making mistakes. Asking for forgiveness. Smiling through the hard stuff. Stealing moments amidst toddler tantrums. Dancing in the kitchen.
It's being the one to make the coffee for the other in the morning. It's washing the dishes when they're dirty, and waking up at 2 a.m. to console a crying baby so the other one can sleep. It's holding your wife's hand when she's crying and then listening -- really listening -- when she pours out her heart. It's being patient with one another's faults by not trying to change them overnight, but instead, gently proposing an invitation to become the person God wills you to become.
If anything, these past three years have taught me that love is anything but stagnant. It keeps growing and we keep learning. That's really what our marriage has looked like so far. It's still in it's infancy, but I believe no matter where life takes our relationship, we will continue to be humbled by its lessons. So, my Bradley, happy anniversary. I know you'll read this because you are the biggest supporter of LFW and I just wanted to let the world (and by world I mean the few people who'll read this ;)) know how ridiculously happy you've made me. I love you and I will continue to love you all the days of my life.
PS > If you love weddings this is for you: view more photos from our wedding and a little interview I did about our day, HERE. Thanks for helping us celebrate another year down!