Thanks to my parents, my husband and myself were able to spend our anniversary at the Priory Hotel where we were married just one year ago. It is amazing just how fast time flies and even more so, just how different life is one year later. We had a lovely dinner out and then went back to the hotel to talk about our wedding and our ups and down since that magical moment one year ago. We talked about the speeches and the rehearsal dinner the night before, the food, the laughs and cries but ultimately the love that has brought and will keep us together forever. And so on this night, my journal will be more of an open letter to my husband, the love of my life and forever s'more buddy. 

Dear Husband, 

It has been one year since we said "I do" and things have changed in a million places in a million ways. I smile to myself now knowing how very prepared we were for this lifetime journey but also unprepared at the same time. Because afterall, life is just one big unprepared preparation in itself.  I always remember thinking to myself, we have been dating for far longer than most (together now 7 years) and yet the whimsical surprises I have come to appreciate are old but also new discovered whimsies throughout our one year together. Yes, the first year has been hard but only in the sense that we both know we wish we could spend more time together. And we will. Someday. But for both of us we share a common thread and that is-we both know how much persistence it takes to make whimsy happen, how much drive and how much love. And if anything, we know we signed up for a more difficult journey just because we have faith in eachother that we will drive through until the end. Sure there have been weeds in our garden, but we have transformed those weeds into a family of flowers that works for us. In this time we have learned that simply snuggling after a long day is all that really needs to be said before the next day comes. We have learned that we do whatever we can to make the other one feel magic whether it is through emptying the dishwasher or making an unexpected meal. We have realized that sometimes sleepless nights get the best of us and just sleeping and snoozing together helps to complete a difficult day. At the start of residency sometimes life was a bit difficult when I saw couples grocery shopping together or running errands and now I realize that here is no sense dwelling over those things. If you could, you would be there and you always are with me in every hummus container I select or "bubbly juice" I pass over. It makes it all the easier knowing that you are sacrificing your sleep and your time to help others. And I think there is no greater beauty when you come home and share with me a rather gruesome case that you fixed on your own. And the patient is content. And you are smiling with your eyes. Your wisdom and your talent are the greatest in the world and yet you never boast or talk about yourself. In fact, you never talk about yourself-only if I ask. In our hearts we have both cried one thousand tears about time and lack thereof and then you come to realize that this journey is only making us realize just how precious time is, how important our future family will be together and how our values are in alignment-that time spent together is most important. There is whimsy in this realization. Marriage is patience and purity and understanding. It requires unselfish understanding and sharing. And this is just the start of our very long journey together. My love for you is so much more than it was one year ago. Through Facetime and letters and sticky notes of "I love you" we certainly will have a love story to share with future children one day. For the way you smile with your eyes even in the longest 32 hour days is always a reminder of just how strong you are. No complaints but just a "Life is good Bri. We are the lucky ones." 

Happiest of Anniversaries to you my constant dreamer, time warrior and food-lover. And many more.