Anniversary

On Thursday, Bob and I will celebrate being married for 4 years. I feel like we've been married much longer than that (and I don't mean that in a bad way at all). Maybe the fact that we lived together for 2 years prior to getting married is why I feel like it's been longer. We have pretty much been inseparable since we started dating in May 2001.

I can't help but think about what an impact Bob has had on my life. Before I met Bob I was walking down a dangerous path of self-destruction. The things I was doing at that time are not things I was proud of, nor were they things that I wanted to include in the definition of who I was. Part of me feels like Bob rescued me from that life. He swept me off my feet and saved me from the life I was living. I could have been doing things much worse than I was doing, but the activites I was participating in wasn't who I really was. It's weird that through dating Bob I discovered who I was, and who I really wanted to become.

Most people probably thought Bob and I were crazy when three weeks into our relationship we announced we were moving from MN to WI to go back to school. We weren't going to be living together, but we were moving to another state together. It was very very difficult for me to make this decision. I would be moving in with my grandmother, which was AMAZING. BUT...I would be leaving behind my mom, the place I called home, and some very great friends. I remember crying and crying and saying goodbyes I never wanted to say. Bob was there for me the entire time. He was so supportive; giving me space when I needed it, and a shoulder to cry on when I needed that.

Despite the fear and sadness that came with the move, I believe 100% it was the single greatest decision I have made in my life. I was able to start fresh, escape the people that I felt were holding me back, and begin a new life with the man I loved.

Bob and I registered for classes together at the University of WI-Marathon County. Pretty much all my aunts and uncles went to this 2 year UW school. We took all our classes together and really enjoyed going to college and expanding our horizons. It was simply AMAZING to share this time with Bob. Without Bob's constant support (and nagging), I never would have found the ambition and drive to make it through that first semester.

Bob has continued to be the greatest support EVER as I have embarked on my journey through nursing school. I don't know what I would do without him. When I'm overwhelmed and just want to quit, it's Bob that's reminding me why I started this journey in the first place. When I don't have time to do laundry and memorize Fluid and Electrolyte levels, it's Bob that's washing and folding AND offering to do the rest of the weekly chores. He's simply the best. I can't say enough great things about him. I just love him to pieces. I don't know what I would do without him, or where I would be without him. Part of me thinks that I would have gotten myself together on my own, while another part thinks I'd be living the same life I had been living.

I just know that without Bob my life would not even be half as happy as it is now. Without Bob I would never have experienced the love of a soul mate. It's hard to put into words what my husband has done for me. We've only been together for 8 years, but I know that they have been the 8 greatest years of my life, and I can't wait to spend every day of the rest of my life as Mrs. McInnis.