Us Presslys have officially been at this marriage thing for a whole year! This past Sunday Justin and I celebrated our one year anniversary together. It was a nice, relaxing day filled with surprises, sunshine, juicy steaks and cake! My favorite part of the day was sitting together on the back porch stuffing our faces, with our fur babies sitting at our feet, reflecting on the past year.

This year has flown so fast. We were very busy, settling into our new lives and roles, while still trying to maintain relationships outside of our home. Let me tell you- that is tough! We’ve had a lot of fun getting to do life together and figuring out our faith and just how good Jesus is together. It’s been the little things that have been the most fun- days on the boat together, training June together, painting our living room, impromptu date nights, road trips and jam sessions, deep conversations about where we’re headed and how our sins affect our everyday lives.

It has also been hard and challenging. I’ve learned more about myself and my husband in the past year than I think I ever have. I’ve learned what compromise really means and how valuable it is. I’ve learned what true affection is too. It’s not the steamy, romantic, head-over-heels feeling all of the time like culture wants us to believe. It’s watching Justin put the dishes away. It’s back scratches when all you want to do is turn over and hit the sack. It’s sharing the last kiwi strawberry water when you’ve been looking forward to it all afternoon. It’s holding hands in the car. It is by no means glamorous. It’s being the first to say you’re sorry. It’s making up lyrics to songs just to make the other giggle. It’s picking stuff out of the other’s teeth. True affection is doing life together and not giving up, no matter how much you want to throw in the towel.

I am blessed beyond words to get to figure out marriage with a man that God created for me. Marriage is the greatest gift he’s given to us and that touches me deep down in my toes to try my hardest to not screw it up. The point of marriage is to teach me to wash the feet of another sinner. The point of marriage is to make me more like Him. Marriage has far exceeded my expectations and I can’t wait to see what year number two brings to us!