Laidel May: Five Precious Years Together

My anniversary gift to R (with the intention of him using it in his workplace but he framed it instead!) :)

30th December 2015. It's been five years since 30th December 2010, the day we became a couple. Five years since R told me it wasn't just a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship; that he wanted it to end in marriage. I'm glad I wrote this five years ago when I told him the three magic words for the first time. Since then, every 30th has been a milestone and a blessing for us (we got married 30th June 2012). Five years together and here I am, still thanking the Lord for weaving R's life into mine.

December has been a crazy-busy month for the two of us, with R not getting any time off from work whilst I only had New Year's Eve as my holiday. But we knew we should celebrate our fifth year together anyhow. R managed to book us a table in Westbury Hotel, a five-star hotel in Dublin's City Centre (five for five, I guess it's alright to splurge!). After work, we dressed up and headed there, only to be surprised by an almost-empty restaurant. It looked as if we booked the whole place by ourselves!

At this sweet table-for-two by the fireplace, we got to dine poshly and reminisce the past five years, giddily laughing at the fun times and sighing at the hard times.

Thank God for servers willing to take photos of us! We never trust phone selfies; camera photos are still the best and the clearer way to preserve moments like this. :)

We recalled the early beginnings of our love story---the cheesy moments of courtship, the goodbyes in the airports, the time difference, the long Skype calls. Then we remembered our wedding---the stressful preparation, the gargantuan expenses (which we regretted by the way; learn from us friends), the family woes, the lessons learned. We reminisced the early beginnings of our married life---when I moved to Dublin jobless and uncertain if I'd fit in, the thrifty days to get through in one salary, the first apartment with a busted boiler and no windows (literally) for imagination. Then finally, we recollected the sweet and joyful seasons of traveling to European countries, of finally landing the jobs we desired, of finally getting pregnant after two worrying years of trying, of leading a bible study group together.

It's been five amazing years with you R. I wouldn't change a thing. Every "up season" made us stronger and closer to God; every "down season" made us wiser, gentler and bolder in faith. Everyday, I thank God that it's you I get to do this crazy life with and get to raise and love one precious little soul with. Soon enough, our lives will change and there may be no more date-nights like this. But I am all the more excited for the next season God has prepared before us and for our soon-to-be adventures as a family of three.

Happy fifth year R. :)