Today marks the completion of our first decade as husband and wife. It's unbelievable how quickly the last ten years have flown by, but equally amazing how much we've grown, changed, and accomplished together.

Alex and I first started house hunting the week after we returned home following our honeymoon. Our house hunt took us through many neighborhoods in and around Washington, DC, including Georgetown and Cleveland Park, but we're both still so happy with our decision to put down roots in Old Town Alexandria.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that, nearly ten years after the purchase of our first home, we'd still be working on "fixing it up." But this journey of moving to a new city without friends or family, having to rely solely on one another for support, and the process of building our lives, careers, network, and home is one that I wouldn't trade.

In the last ten years we've had many ups and a few downs. We've loved and lost, laughed and cried. And in the worst moments of DIY meltdowns or best moments of personal and professional success, I can't think of a better person to stand by my side.

When I broke my front tooth doing laundry, you were there to mock me drive me to the dentist. 

When we learned our home had massive structural damage and was, in essence, being held up by two 2x4s, you talked me off the ledge. 

When I drag you purse shopping, you smile and offer input.

When I have crazy decorating ideas like hand painting a harlequin pattern on our walls or building me a "secret garden" gate, you strap on your tool belt.

The day we said goodbye to Oliver, you were my support. And two days later, when I informed you that we needed to give a home to a sweet black sharpei pug mix, you agreed.

You travel the world with me, exploring cities and countries near and far. From navigating Puerto Rican mangrove-lined streams in pitch darkness to getting pulled over by the Swedish police for speeding, you're up for any adventure.

You tolerate my general impatience, embrace my unending devotion for our fur babies, and love me for who I am. 

For this, and many more reasons, I'm so grateful to share my life with you.

Tonight we'll spend a quiet, romantic evening with 45,000 other screaming baseball fans at the Washington Nationals game, because after all, marriage is about compromise. :-)

What gesture, big or small, has really touched you in a way that made you realize just how much your partner/spouse/significant other loves you? For me, it always comes back to homemade gifts. I mean really, what could possibly say "I love you" more than custom wainscoting?

Comments 22

Comments

Erin Lang Jerro
10/12/2012 at 11:10 AM
Congratulations Wendy and Alex! So, the question is... you've been married for 10... How long have you been together? I feel that ever since I've known Wendy-- there has always been Alex :-)
Jenifer Ann
10/12/2012 at 11:15 AM
Happy Anniversary, Schmutts and Alex. Didn't want to post it on OTH... but I'll do it on the way more personal venue of FB.
Karin K
10/12/2012 at 11:41 AM
That is so sweet! It is a wonderful peek into a what a great marriage looks like from the inside. And my favorite line has to be: "When I broke my front tooth doing laundry, you were there to *mock me* drive me to the dentist." A sense of humor it the MOST important component in a great relationship. Have a fabulous anniversary!
Wendy
10/12/2012
LOL. Yes, a sense of humor is a must have in my book! :-) Thanks, Karin!
10/12/2012 at 12:14 PM
Congrats and happy anniversary, you guys!! Mike and I will be watching that game on TV...perhaps we'll spot ya! haha.
Wendy
10/12/2012
Thanks, Ashley! We'll be sitting in front of the self proclaimed mascot (guy usually in head to toe sequins), so we'll probably be pretty easy to spot. ;-)
Sherry Schiller
10/12/2012 at 12:20 PM
Happy anniversary, wherever you spend it! After all, haven't you been celebrating for a while? What a gorgeous bride you were, and have only improved with age, Wendy. Now, Alex....
10/12/2012 at 12:55 PM
Happy Anniversary. I hope the Nationals make it all the way to the World Series... only to loose to the Tigers!
Wendy
10/12/2012
They're going all the way!
Stacy
10/12/2012 at 12:58 PM
Happy anniversary! What a great partnership you two have. Here's to many more years! :)

As to your question about big/small gestures that have touched me, I travel for work and ever since we started dating (3 years ago), my husband has found a way to sneak a card into my luggage... every.single.trip. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's sentimental, but always the card reminds me of our connection. :)
Wendy
10/12/2012
Aww, that's so sweet. What a nice surprise when you open your luggage!
Elizabeth
10/12/2012 at 1:14 PM
Happy anniversary!
Wendy
10/12/2012
Thanks, Elizabeth!
Old Town Home
10/12/2012 at 2:00 PM
Thanks Erin Lang Jerro! We've been married for ten, and together more than 17 years. (Which, if you're doing the math, is officially more than half our lives. Yikes!) Where has the time gone?
10/13/2012 at 12:01 AM
Happy Anniversary!

I love hearing about other couples that have been together for what is deemed by everyone we know as "forever." We've been married nearly 11 and been together for nearly 17. :-)
Old Town Home
10/12/2012 at 2:05 PM
Aww, thanks Sherry Schiller. Funny, I feel like Alex hasn't changed much but I am looking O-L-D! :-)
Paula Pagano
10/12/2012 at 3:45 PM
Happy #10!!! Enjoy the game tonight! Go Nats!
10/14/2012 at 4:59 PM
Happy anniversary also from my side and I wish you many more happy years together!
threadbndr
10/15/2012 at 1:14 PM
Congratulations you two! You were a cute couple back then and still are today.

Here's to the second decade being even better!
JC
10/22/2012 at 10:04 PM
Congrats on your first 10 years, and hopefully many more to come! I'm just catching up now on something like 2 weeks worth of posts, so that's why you're getting a bunch of replies from me all at the same time.

:)
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