The Way We Were...

...is pretty similar to the way we still are... don't you think?! Minus those youthful cheeks and unlined smiles and eyes, of course. Five years is bound to show up in some form of aging... it's the natural progression of things. But crow's feet and smiles lines aren't the only things we've added since July 24, 2004... we've accomplished a lot in five years of marriage and we've surpassed some major milestones...

• First jobs...second... and third jobs too.
  
• Changing careers... once each and back again for me.
  
• Two sibling weddings.
  
• Taking our first of many leaps of faith, moving to a new city.
  
• Buying our first home.
  
• Buying our first car... and second.
  
• Our first pet... 
  
• Surviving (barely) our first illnesses as a married couple...the flu!
• Joining our first church as a married couple... and second.
  
• Hosting our first family holiday... and second.
  
• Going on our first family vacation... South Padre...and second... a cruise.
  
• Surviving our first SERIOUS financial struggle... and continuing to persevere.
  
• Our first child... from conception to birth... and now raising a 6 month old.
  
• Dedicating ourselves to shepherding Caden's heart to loving Jesus.
  
• Experiencing what for better and for worse really means.
  
• And now...celebrating our first FIVE years of marriage.
  

So I guess when we really put pencil to paper or fingers to keyboard in this case, the way we were really isn't close to the way we are. But let us not forget that the way we are is not the way we will be... when our work is complete. What will we look like then? What will our list of bullet points say about our lives... what will Justin and I's marriage have brought to the world?

Only time will tell...

Happy Anniversary Justin!  Thanks for being my best friend!

I love you!