Matt and I were married 5 years ago today. I am amazed at how far we have come and what things have changed since then. We obvioulsy have grown older (and we can tell it) but we also have grown closer. We have been through quite a bit in our 5 years of marriage. Just like every marriage we've had our ups and downs...our ins and outs...but no matter what we have stuck together.
I am gonna ramble for a bit, so if you don't want to take a journey of mushed together memories then go on and move to your next blog of choice...I promise my feelings won't be hurt.
Way Back Then...
When we were little, my sister and I loved to play dress-up. We always had tons of dress-up outfits...some made by mom and some purchased. I remember vivedly playing dress up one time at my Nanny and Granddaddy's house. Kristen and I dressed up in our play wedding dresses and we both married our Granddaddy. Too funny! What's even funnier (and true) is that unconciously we were already visualizing our weddings and future husbands.
A wedding is something a girl dreams of forever. Even after the big day is over, your wedding day stays fresh in your memory. Forever. It's one of the biggest days of your life and it's something you will never forget.
We were engaged in July of 2003. I will never forget that day. Matt called me and told me to wear something nice that night but didn't tell me where we were going. I had no clue what the evening would bring. He picked me up late in the afternoon and we headed to the Botanical Gardens. We walked around talking for a while and then finally found a little secluded gazebo to rest in. We talked some more and then it was time...he got down on one knee and popped the big question. I, of course, cried and said yes. We then headed to my most favorite restaurant, Copeland's (which is now closed). After dinner was over and we were getting out of the booth Matt spilled an entire glass of tea on me. Oh the memories. (By the way, I still have that dress...tea stain and all...and I can't even wear it anymore.)
Matt and I were married in the same church we attend now. The same church we met in back in 1998 (although he had a girlfriend then). The visual appearance of the sanctuary has changed but I can still feel the same anticipation and excitement and Holy Spirit I felt that day.
I won't bore you with the details but I will say this...that day changed my life forever. I no longer will encounter life alone...I will always have someone to share the ups and downs with.
Here are some pictures of our big day:
The Handsome Groom
Me (aren't our stained glass windows beautiful?)
I love him even more today...
We had our pictures made before the wedding so this was the first time we saw each other that day...
The entire wedding party...L to R
April, Casey, Whitney, Alline, Amanda, Kristen, Me, Matt, Matt's Dad, Jason, Cory, Kris, Ryan, Daniel...the kids L to R...Devyn, Ivey, Garrison, Walker
Exchanging our rings
Our Unity Ceremony...much thanks to my friend Heather for the idea...we used colored water instead of candles
Our new family
(L to R My Dad, my Mom, me, Matt, Matt's Mom, Matt's Dad)
Our Reception...we opted to do this ourselves...more for less, ya know what I'm saying?
Leaving the church in Matt's Camaro...
What about now?:
Well, now...now we are more in love than ever. We have our beautiful daughter to keep us busy (what we did with "free time" before her is something I can't even remember). We have all we need...a roof over our heads, clothes, food and transportation and most of all...love. We have our ups and downs but we always manage to figure things out.
We have been through alot in our 5 years of marriage but I won't post all that in this post...maybe one day...but not today...today we are just celebrating!
Matt,
I can't believe it has been 5 years! It seems like just yeserday we were making weekly trips to and from JSU so you could march with the Southerners. And now...now you are the music director at church and you are instilling your same love for music in our daughter. I seems like just yesterday we were planning our wedding and now here we are five years later with a wonderful house, a beautiful daughter and more love than I ever thought I could have. You are my best friend and my soul mate. God truly blessed me when he brought us together. I can't imagine my life without you. Thank you so much for being such a hard worker, an understanding (and forgiving) husband, and a wonderful father. You make me so happy and I am so proud of you for everything you do. I love you, Matt, with all of my heart!
Love,
Karmen
All photographs by Randall Veazey Photography. (And yes...we bought the proofs and rights to these so that we could make more copies later on down the road.)
