Paper.

As of today I have spent 366 days married to my best friend - that's right, we have officially hit the one year mark! It has been a whirlwind year, and we have been tested more than some couples who have spent decades together haven't faced and I believe we came out stronger than ever. The first anniversary is attributed to paper due to how fragile the relationship is in the first year. Looking back, I definitely have a deeper appreciation for this milestone.

Over the course of the past year-ish, I've often stared at my ring (which is gorgeous and perfect) and thought about how much more it is than a beautiful piece of jewelry on my finger, because it's so much more than that. Everything it represents has become so much more personal in the past year-ish. I say year-ish because it became a new piece of my life when we were engaged. From the moment we were engaged we planned for marriage. We registered for gifts in the planning of our home, we spoke with wise counsel and worked through things before they became problems in pre-marital counseling, and I went through the process of legally changing my name. We didn't just plan the wedding, but for our life together afterwords. There were times before the wedding that it almost wasn't on my finger - which makes it's presence that much more significant. This ring represents all the nights wrapped up in each other's arms, all the passionate kisses, the times we've cried from laughing so hard. But this ring also represents the times we've been frustrated with each other or life's circumstances.

We have been put through the ringer this year, for sure. We have been tested, tested, tested, and felt like we were at our breaking points too many times to count. Not at all because of each other, but because of the life circumstances we found ourselves in whether it be health, jobs, locale...but finally we are starting to see the other side of so many challenges. God has had His hand on our marriage from the beginning, even when we couldn't see Him. I was in and out of the hospital literally from the time we got home from the honeymoon and haven't been in the hospital for the past few months, which has been a huge blessing. It was a nice break while it lasted, as last week I had major surgery on my knee, and now I'm basically an invalid which has put another role on my sainted husband, of caretaker. Throughout my days with my husband, especially in the past week, I have seen the character of Jesus shine through Him. He never gets mad at me for my chronic illnesses or need for so much physical help at this time, but laments WITH me at the circumstances. He finds ways to make the humiliation of needing to literally be carried to the bathroom have enough dignity so I don't hate my life. He never complains about getting something for me, and manages to make my tears disappear. This is my first major surgery I've had post-marriage and it was such an eye-opening experience about the true bonds of marriage. "In sickness and health" was such an important piece of our vows that I specifically wanted in our wedding because I'm already sick and we knew going into this that it would be a crucial part of our lives - and my husband has never faltered in this.

The past year has not had a dull moment, and I definitely understand why people always say that marriage is work. But it's one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had and I absolutely cannot wait to see where this next year, and the many to come, take us.