Three Years Together

Today marks three years that I've been married to this wonderful, blue-eyed Virginian. As I sit here typing this post, I think "three years? How is that possible?"
 Time passes so quickly-- it seems like only yesterday I was standing in the basement of our wedding venue, clutching my bouquet in both hands, my heart tumbling around in my tummy and throat. I was so impatient to walk down the aisle that I hurried my dad out to the carriage that would take us to the ceremony site. We ended up sitting in the carriage for several minutes because my bridesmaids hadn't even walked down the aisle yet.  "It's not quite time yet, honey," my dad reminded me. But I was ready to go! 

When I heard the first piano strains of an instrumental Hanging by A Moment (yes, that old Lifehouse song), my heart leapt right into my throat. The carriage lurched forward. 
I know you're supposed to be serious and somber on your wedding day, but I could not stop grinning. I beamed the whole way down the aisle and giggled through the entire ceremony. And then, to my utter surprise, threw up a fist-pump when we were announced husband and wife. Poor Mark certainly got a big dose of spunk in his tiny wife! 

Don't you wish there was a rewind on life? I'd give anything to go back and relive that day. To feel the butterflies, the nervous tummy, the burn of tears in the back of my throat. To hear the guests singing one of our church hymns, to hear the piano keys tinkling our wedding march, to hear the cheers of our friends and family. I guess that's why we spend so much on wedding photography! Because the photos and the memories are all we have once those fleeting hours pass by. 
On our wedding day, one of our elderly relatives offered this blessing: "May this day be just the first of many happy days together." Our wedding day was -- in my opinion-- an absolute perfect day. But I cherish more the days I've had with Mark since then. Each one brimming with its fair share of laughter, tears, smiles, and adventures together. 
I can honestly say that I love him more today than I did the day he proposed or the day I walked down the aisle to take his hand. As we learn about each other and ourselves, we discover new reasons to fall in love all over again. I don't know how or why God chose me to be this man's wife, but I'm so glad he did. 

For more wedding pictures, check out Our Wedding series of posts.  I'm a sucker for wedding stories as well, so share yours in comments below!