The day we said “I do”, I was standing in my wedding dress and you in a suit in front of those who care for us both. 

I didn't realize, at the time, fully what I was saying I do to. 

I was saying “I do” to happiness and joy. I was saying those two magic words to a life that is full of beauty and remarkable moments we would experience together. 

I think back now to when I knew nothing about marriage, and had this idea of what smooth sailing it would be. 

I was wrong.

I was wrong about marriage being full of moments that had only joy.

I was mistaken about what our life was going to look like together.

I was mistaken about it all and now I know. 

Years, that is what it took. Years of going through hurdles and struggles. 

Years, that is what it took. Years of fighting and arguments about the big things and the little things. 

It took breaking apart a few times, and honestly hating each other's choices in this life, to come back together to fight for each other. 

We have gone through our fair share of issues and maybe it is just me, but I am not shy about sharing the uphill battle this marriage has been. 

We needed to grow. That is what I told someone the other day when they asked about me and my husband's marriage. 

It has not always been easy, it has been far from always great.

We needed to grow individually and also we needed to grow as a couple.  

We are both still here together in this marriage and I am sure some are surprised.  

There was a time when I wondered if someone would love you better than I do.

There was a time when my husband wondered if someone would love me better than he did. 

Wondering that made us both realize that maybe we aren't meant to have an easy marriage or always a beautifully peaceful marriage. 

But instead, a real marriage where people make mistakes, where our flaws are accepted, and each and every morning we try to be better than yesterday. To always work on this thing called marriage together, fighting for a life together. 

Today marks another anniversary together, not wondering anymore if someone can love either of us better, but wondering how we ever questioned what we were saying “I do" to.