The Best Three Years

Today we celebrate our third anniversary. It is crazy to me how time works. It seems impossible it has been three years already and yet so difficult to remember a time without each other.

My husband was my sister's family's jiu-jitsu instructor. (He is a black belt in jiu jitsu, tae kwon do and hapkido.) My sister invited him to a couple casual get togethers. Of course, I was soon interested in him. But when my sister first tried to "fix us up" I was convinced there was no chance he would be interested in me. I thought surely someone that athletic would not be looking for an unathletic girl. One day after going to watch their jiu-jitsu class I took the plunge and asked him to go hiking with me. It was the most gorgeous November day ever (28th). I felt instantly comfortable with him. We talked and laughed. His story would include me joking about pushing him off the cliff...but I don't remember that :) After our hike we went to lunch at his favorite Mexican place...about a block and a half from my house.  We were so busy talking I couldn't concentrate on the menu...I just ordered the same thing as him (arroz con pollo).  We got engaged the next year on Christmas Eve.

Today I am sharing pictures from our wedding.  I apologize in advance I couldn't stop adding pictures.  I have read so many blogs in the last few months and it always hurts my heart when I read that their wedding pictures make them so sad because of how they looked. Even then I had hoped we would eventually lose weight.  But I promised myself I would never look at the pictures and be sad that we weren't in perfect shape.  That was our moment in time - we met, fell in love and married at the weight we were.  It makes me happy to know we loved each other for who we were not for what we looked like. 

 At the time we met, I was 40 years old and had never been close to the aisle.  I truly thought no one would ever want to marry me...I have never been so happy to be wrong!

We got married at the lodge in the park where we went hiking on our first date. The perfect circle :) 

We took a ton of pictures on the paths we had walked on our first date.

There was no way I was getting married at the lodge/park in fancy shoes.  I loved my "something blue."

We decorated the tables with our engagement pictures and various other pictures from our relationship.

My niece was the best flower girl. She was 7 when we started dating. The first unofficial time we went out was my sister inviting him to my oldest niece's high school play.  After the play we ate at Steak n Shake. My little niece grilled him with a ton of  "what is your favorite?" questions. My favorite  was "what is your favorite waffle?"  At the time it was plain...now he says my peach waffles.

 I surprised my husband my entering to Princess Leia's theme.   

And exiting to  Star Wars Throne Room theme song.  I loved the look on his face when he realized what was playing.  Such a fun moment. He is such a nerd :) I might have promised if we ever did a vow renewal we could do a complete Star Wars theme....  Wouldn't he be the cutest 80 year old Vader??

The lodge has a giant chess board.  We have played several games on it before and since the wedding. 

Happy Anniversary to my love :)