one.

one year ago i walked on a sandy beach towards his smiling face.

i walked by myself. it was daunting, and i was very nervous about being the center of attention for those long 30 seconds.

it was so worth it.

the first year of marriage is awesome and challenging. i knew ben so well before, and still have really yet to be surprised by anything he does or says. but that doesn’t mean we didn’t grow or change or learn things about love, our relationship and what we want for the years to come.

we’ve set the foundation.

of course we can change as needed, but this was a really important year. i’m not just saying that because it’s what every married person says. i actually mean it. there is some adjustment, some learning, and some growing. i know so much more about myself now than i did before.  i know how bad my worst really is, and i know how good my best is capable of being, all because of a man who loves me through all of it.

i have a partner for life. someone who will be here through everything. we are a team, and i love it.

i feel like i’ve been missing something by not being married before. everyone should get married. and frankly, everyone should be able to get married.

i live with a wonderful man who makes me laugh every single day. we can act so ridiculously together and have so much fun. that is what life is about. having fun. enjoying each other. really liking the person you’re with.

sometimes hearing “i love you” kind of loses its intensity. but when someone says they actually like you, that’s big. and i know that ben likes me. and for the record, i really like him. he is the best man i know, who really makes me want to be the best woman he knows (he would tell you that i am, but i know far better women).

we celebrated our anniversary (which was yesterday) with a whale watch, and a trip to our beach. as we sat watching the sunset as we did a year ago, i thought of how i felt like we’d always been married, but at the same time it felt as though we were literally there yesterday getting married.

i will say that the sunset following a hurricane is much more beautiful than the one we experienced yesterday. so i’m thankful for that hurricane 363 days ago that made our wedding at sunset so beautiful.

happy anniversary, ben.