5 years of love letters.

Justin and I celebrate our 5 year anniversary in a week. I can't believe it's been 5 years! It's hard to believe all the changes we've had since then. If anyone would have told me what my life would be like now, I wouldn't have believed them. We've lived in so many different places, experienced so many new things, met wonderful people, and had two beautiful kids {with one on the way!} and we live in GERMANY.

When I was in high school I thought about what my married life would be like, but I didn't really understand what all of it meant. I couldn't really grasp what it would be like to be married, have bills, kids, adult obligations, etc. I don't think my teenage brain could get past high school. After high school would just never happen, I thought it would last forever. Or I at least thought after high school there would be college and my life would stay the same.

Marrying Justin was a dream. Before him I never had a serious boyfriend and had only kissed one or two other boys. {Don't be jealous Justin, you were the best!} I used to tell my mom that I would never find the one for me, and I would cry. She always told me that I would meet him, and that he would be perfect for me. I can honestly say I didn't believe it. But she was right! {See Tommy, Mommies always know best!}

When I was a freshmen in high school, Justin really caught my eye. He lived down the street from me, and sometimes we would walk to school at the same time. I remember seeing his gleaming blond hair shining in the sun with his button up Hawaiian shirt {that I promptly threw out shortly after we were married-- awful thing!} and I remember walking faster hoping to catch up to him so he would notice me.

We met "officially" when I was a sophmore. We were both taking dance in school and we were performing in a dance concert for the school. My friend knew him and introduced us to each other {he doesn't remember this... there's a man for you!} and he said hi to me and I wanted to faint with glee. Shortly after that, I accidentally met his brother Jason. {Hi Jason!!} Jason and I actually became very good friends, but I didn't see Justin much. He had two jobs and he was never home when I would visit Jason.

When I was a senior, I was talking with Jason and asked him about Justin. I knew he was on a mission in France and Jason said I should write to him. I didn't think I would, but wrote down his mission address anyway. I was embarrassed because I didn't think Justin would remember me. My mom said I should write him, because what could it hurt? So I did.

2 weeks later, I had forgotten my letter to him {thinking he probably wouldn't write back} when my mom brought this letter to me. I was at my dad's office doing paperwork for him on a Saturday. I hope you can read the letter, it is really cute!

After reading the letter, oh, a million times, I wrote back. After that I would check the mailbox daily, waiting for his replies. Our mailbox was kind of far from our house, we lived in the middle of Queen Creek, population 5 at the time {Justin still makes fun of this fun little fact, and calls it "Little Mexico" since there was a strip of mexican stores by my house.} So I would run there, and then walk back really slow because I had already ripped open his letter and started reading.

When he got back from his mission, he asked me to my prom. It was our first real date, though we met up a few times and I helped him shop for clothes and met some of his friends. It really was a dream come true. I had been asked to the prom before I knew he was back from his mission, but I said no. I wasn't sure why I said no, because I knew I wanted to go. I was so shy, it was ridiculous. I couldn't speak right around him, couldn't be myself for a really long time. He was patient.

I wrote him this letter a few days before our wedding.

We knew we wanted kids shortly after we were married. About a year after we were married, we were expecting Tommy. After we found out, Justin lost his job. He went from job to job for months, nothing was working out. We thought about the army, and decided to go for it. It was the hardest decision we've ever made. We knew Justin would miss Tommy's birth. Those 9 weeks seemed like 9 years.

And just like before, I checked my mailbox everyday hoping for his letters.

Isn't he sweet? I'm lucky.

I love you Justin. Happy Anniversary! I love our love story. ♥