4 years of wedded bliss

I feel like I was writing this post like 5 minutes ago... BUT once again, today is our anniversary! 4 years! And boy does my life look a LOT different right now than I thought it would 4 years ago. I sat thinking about it the other day and asked myself, "How in the world did I get here?" and "Holy cow, while 4 years doesn't sound like THAT long, it's a LOT of days...." and then started doing the math. And well, being the genius I am {hah} my mind started going down a long winding road with that one.... and I realized it has been approximately.....


2,830 days since we met each other

Which was around this time at the beginning of our freshmen year in college in the dorm where we both lived. Its quite the funny story.... that I will spare you for you.... for now. Let's just say, it was NOT love at first sight.

2,790 days since our first very much NOT official date that we went on JUST as friends {made sure that was clear}

 ....to the horse races in Lexington. Sparks were NOT flying. 

I mean, we look like babies. Seriously. 

 2,595 days since we started dating 

I guess I just needed OH about 195ish days to for the BG to do a lot of stuff in both of our hearts. This was our first "official" we are actually dating date, where we went hiking. 


2,411 since he told me he loved me for the first time

Which was not at this football game. It was the same weekend though {i think}. 

Jump forward a few years.....

1,676 days since we got engaged

AND 

1,461 days since....

We said "I Do"

And Now here we are 4 years later.... and we've now been married longer than we knew each other before we got married.... and it felt like dating through almost all of college was a loooooong time. It wasn't.

I will state the obvious that it has most certainly been the BEST and {maybe not as obvious, but true} hardest 4 years of my life. And I wouldn't trade any of it for a second. HE has done SO much in and through us through unexpected joys, lots of transition, and really unforeseeable trials. We are grateful for each. 

So here's a little recap.....

1st year of marriage.... kind of a blur. But I do remember still having the joy of going to LOTS of football games. sadly, a now distant memory. 

First anniversary, celebrated in KM in EA in 2008. 

2nd year.... hard. But good. And we got Lucy. Which as the header says, brought lots of joy. 

Second anniversary, celebrated in GY in EA in 2009. 

3rd year of marriage.... lots of growing, moving, and working in our hearts. Lots. 

Third anniversary, celebrated in Chile with Adam's brother and sister-in-law. 

4th year of marriage.... by far the best yet. Moved to another country. Both grown IMMENSELY, especially in our marriage. I've learned so much this year. It's been pretty great. 

Now I feel like I'm going to blink and it's going to be 5 years.

We are of course continuing our tradition of non-american anniversaries, and already know that the 5th will be the same.... with probably 3 out of 5 being in GY in EA. reminds me that we are really blessed to live the the life we do. 

Happy Anniversary my love. So thankful for you. 

Joyfully Humbly Loved,

THE summer wedding- #11 Matthew & Jamie

This is it- the final wedding of all wedding this past summer. My beautiful bestest! 

Matthew & Jamie!

This engagement FLEW by and before we knew it they were married! It was so special to spend the last few days before we moved over here with them. 

The Bridesmaid Luncheon

The Rehearsal 

and Rehearsal Dinner

(someone is making fun of my picture taking stance)

The Big Day

Creating a masterpiece- who knew you needed so many curls....

to create this.....

So beautiful! 

Roommates from college

The Ceremony

Don't the guys look so handsome in their seersucker and bow ties!? 

My beautiful friend Brookie- I was SO glad to see her before we left!

The Reception.

FULL of Jamie's creative touches. She is so talented. 

Go check out her blog here for more fun touches. 

The Beautiful Cake made by her fabulous mother-in-law WITH the adorable UK & USC Bride & Groom Bird cake toppers Jamie made! 

Welcome Table with this cute banner she made AND the fun sign with places they've been together and how far away they all are. Super cute. 

They had their reception at this lake house- SO perfect for them. It was fantastic. 

Cornhole outside with the boards they made

Picture table (blurry pic but you get the picture...literally) with their signature frame and wedding pictures of their parents and grandparents. 

She made the grass monogram.

 The centerpieces were all made from miscellaneous things she and her mom had around the house. All so unique and creative. 

First Dance

The mantle

There is a GIANT tacky painting of a tiger bolted to brick of the chimney so Jamie took fabric from Ikea and covered a giant canvas with it to cover the tiger and put fun things on the mantle. It looked amazing.

Matthew & his wonderful Mama 

Wonderful friends from college

Once again, Jamie's creativity at it's best. She made this photo booth with lips and mustaches on a stick where you could take pictures. So cute. 

Best friends. We lovelovelove the Pepins and are so thankful that you were willing to have a short engagement so we could be there. Couldn't ask for more wonderful friends!

Joyfully celebrating the Pepins,

Summer Wedding #10- Pat & Courtney

really.... i am finishing these- 2 more! 

Summer Wedding #10-

THE BILLIGS!

I love this picture! So beautiful. 

Pat and Adam were fraternity brothers in college and roommates their sophomore year. Pat & Courtney started dating in college, and are now living in Louisville. 

Tailgating before a Bengals game with Pat & Courtney (far left) and our friend Chris. 

We love Adam's friends from college and so wish that we could spend more time with them. Unfortunately their wedding was the same day as Jamie's, so we weren't able to be there but definitely thought about them all day. 

Congratulations Pat & Courtney!

Joyfully celebrating (almost 4 month's later) the Billigs,

Summer Wedding #9- Lauren & Pearson

Okay I really have to finish these special summer weddings!!! 

SO Summer wedding #9 was this BEAUTIFUL couple.....

LAUREN & PEARSON! 

Again, SOSOSO sad I wasn't able to be there with them- Their wedding was in Charlotte the weekend after the wedding in Wisconsin, the week before Matt & Jamie's in South Carolina, and less than 2 weeks before we moved out of the country, so it just wasn't possible. I was so sad to miss out, as Lauren is such a sweet friend. 

I met Lauren or "Linky" in 2005 when we spent the summer in Santa Cruz together. She is seriously one of the sweetest people I know. I just love her to death. 

Our hearts have become even more kindred since then, as she moved to EA right after we graduated. In fact... she lived in our apartment here 2 years ago, so I think about her all the time. 

Lauren and Pearson met when they were both living over here and quickly fell in love. I enjoyed spending the summer after they met here with her learning more about their relationship. It's obvious that they are so crazy about each other. 

So happy for you guys!

Love you Linky! 

Joyfully celebrating the Alsobrooks, 

Summer Wedding #8- Russell & Sarah

So remember in May when I made a commitment to blogging about all of our summer weddings???... and well, since the last 4 were all people we are close to- 2 of them we were in (and all within 3 weeks)- I can't go bad on my promise..... so I'm going to finish them out... better late than never

Summer wedding #8....

Russell & Sarah!

At the end of July, we made our way to Wisconsin (and what an eventful trip it was since Milwaukee flooded the night we were supposed to fly in) to celebrate with this wonderful couple. Adam was so delighted to stand with Russell on his big day. 

I met Russell within the first week of college as we both got connected to the same min. Adam and Russell didn't become close until we went to Russia together the summer after our Junior year, and then got even closer over the next year. Russell ended up moving to Russia right after we graduated, where he met Sarah during his second year there as she was living in Moscow at the time, where they are now living. 

Adam and Russell had regular skype "dates" to check in on each other's lives once he moved over there. This was definitely a highlight in Adam's life over the last few years, and most-definitely such a life giving relationship for him. We knew Sarah was super special when he asked if we could have a 3-way skype conversation to meet her a few months after they started dating. 

The Rehearsal Dinner & Ceremony were both fantastic. It was really great to get a glimpse into their relationship. 

My camera died after this and a friend from college had his DSLR that I played with all night, so that's all that I have from the reception, but it was really nice! 

We're so glad we had the chance to share their big day with them and got to spend time with old friends from college. We love you guys!

Joyfully celebrating the Thomases,