Us, Then

It's a god day for a little looking back. And ahead. I find myself, amazingly, more hopeful than I was on our wedding day. For quite a while this year, I felt that our shiny newlywed promise had been ripped out of our hands. Now I'm okay with the promise we have instead. That we absolutely can get through the icky stuff, that our love will sustain us and grow in - not be diminished by - hard times. And with all of this under our belts, I am positive that there is so much good ahead of us.

Mark's working late tonight. So we'll just be taking a few moments together, reading some words that we tucked away over a year ago, and, oh yes, getting the candy bars out of quarantine.



I'm also more grateful today for what a wonderful wedding day we have to look back on. We would not have that without so many people. Our families, our wedding party, the friends who got on airplanes, the friends who stayed late, the friends who showed up smiling, the friends who showed up with video equipment - you are all a part of our story forever. We love you.

One Year

We're heading out of town this week to celebrate our first anniversary. I think first wedding anniversaries are always big, but it's hard to think that any future anniversary of ours will top this one. The year we've had, and the amazing place our relationship is both in spite of and because of the adversity we've faced . . . I really can't be thankful enough. That we're both still here is a blessing.

The first photo taken of Mark & Jess, April of '04:


Day 1 of Marriage, September of '08:


Our plans aren't too grand, however. We'll be in Monterrey and we'll be relaxing. Since we've been there before, maybe the things we're Not doing this time are more relevant:

1. Getting sneezed on by sea lions with upper respiratory infections. Copious boogers on a wild marine mammal is a warning worth heeding.

2. Wasting time and money eating anywhere other than Tillie Gort's.

3. Driving home along the coast, failing to enjoy the view due to severe car-sickness, pulling over for relief only to be met with a deer carcass just beyond the car door.

4. Going anywhere near the migrating geese.

We learn our lessons the hilarious way.
See you soon!