We Made It!

Today marks our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, y'all! I am so incredibly grateful to be Wyatt's wife, and to have walked hand-in-hand with him over this past year. This past year, the first year of our marriage, may win the contest for hardest year of my life, but not only because we were newly married with a lot to adjust to. It was hard because we moved hundreds of miles away from our family & friends right after honeymooning, had to pack up our new life together in a pile of suitcases, then moved 6,000 miles and an ocean away from our entire community being just 2 months into marriage. It was hard because the longest we were in the same city before we got married was 10 days. It was hard because once we got to Zambia, tons of really crazy things happened at once, things that brought us home for the Spring to recover from the tough stuff. Things like working together to arrest a murderer who tried to kill someone we knew. Things like that, and other stories we can't really share with much of anyone. Yes, it was hard. But WE MADE IT! We made it through some of the toughest things that could've been thrown at us. And if you would've asked us what our goal was for our anniversary just 6 months ago, we would've told you that it was to survive. To just get there. But I am humbled, overjoyed, in awe of God's grace and mercy that we haven't just survived. We have grown together, learned really hard lessons, learned how to appreciate the best (and worst) in each other, and continue to learn how best to love each other. We made it having formed a firm foundation built on the only constant we've had over this past year- Jesus. We made it to a year with a greater love for each other- a deep, authentic, selfless love for each other. The kind that takes fire to create and the kind that will bring us through many more years and hardships to come.

And before I ramble on and on about how much I love Wyatt Bardi and love being his wife and doing life together in Zambia, let's not forget the other stuff. The reality of marriage and the craziness that has been "Our First Year," as told by some unseen wedding photos.

Over this past year of newlywed life,

We have slow danced in the kitchen together. 

And held on to each other for dear life when things seemed too crazy to deal with.

We've been able to walk forward with the great support (via text, email, FaceTime) with lots of these folks (& others). 

But some days we've felt like we've had to do this dance called life all alone.

And on those days we get frustrated with each other easily and want to karate chop each other (but don't follow through thankfully). 

We started off wiping away little tears when the other isn't looking. 

And we've had to learn to let the big, ugly, gushy ones flow in front of each other to really share life together.

We now realize that life/marriage/struggles are basically impossible without prayer and friends.

But it hasn't all been bad. It's been surprisingly hilarious at the most random times. 

And life has provided much-needed moments of unplanned dance-offs.

The more fire we walk through together, the more equipped we feel to do so with joy and confidence.

And on the days that we're fed up with each other or life or both, we know we just have to hold onto each other. Because it.will.get.better. It just will. Because God gives grace upon grace. 

Above all, we've realized that we both will change. We aren't the same people we were one year ago, but one thing hasn't changed- I am his bride and he is my groom. We've been given the gift of loving each other and serving the world through our marriage, and we will make the choice to appreciate that every single day. 

Happy First Anniversary, Wyatt! I love you. I respect you. I appreciate you. And I am thankful for you.

Love,
Amy