January in Mexico: the first, the last, and the last 6 days

Last Wednesday Joey and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary. (woohoo!)

Total, we have been together for 6 years; 3 years dating, 3 years married. It's so weird to think sometimes that we have been together for as long as we have. That for more than half a decade, all my memories, experiences, joys, sorrows, pains, and successes have been shared with this man. This fuzzy-faced, tattooed, ex-punk mexican from Westminster.

I love it!

The first 3 years of dating for us seem like what the first 3 years of marriage should be.

Learning how to communicate, how to 'speak the other persons language', what each other's likes and dislikes are, what makes them upset, learning how do avoid doing those things that make them upset, learning how to apologize correctly (yes, there can be a wrong way), becoming familiar with their habits, tastes, favorites, voice, tone of voice, mannerisms, little quirks, the way their lips quiver when they yawn, etc. Adjusting to the idea that we are no longer single. Learning the balance between significant other, family and friends. Boundaries. Serving each other. Future. Accepting that previous dreams may go unfulfilled. Embracing the new dreams that begin to take shape. Expectations. What do I want in a spouse? Is he what I want in a spouse? What should a spouse be? Not be?

The first three were difficult and confusing.

The first three were wonderful.

The last three began with our wedding in a beautiful park in Huntington Beach.

It is hard to put into words what the last three years have been like.

Nothing seems to do them justice.

There has been laughter. Lots of laughter.

There has been a lot of moving. We are now living in our 4th home together in 3 years.

There has been frustration resolved with understanding.

There have been wrongs overcome with forgiveness.

Trips taken to foreign countries.

Nights at the beach.

Dollar movies.

Sunday nights eating dinner with friends.

Walks with weenie dogs.

Hour-long talks about nothing in particular.

Relationship. One-ness.

The next three promise to bring incredible change. With our 5 year coming up (with plans to go on a major 2 1/2 week last-trip-alone adventure) and the intention to start having kids during that time, who knows where we will be. It's so comforting to know that all these things and so much more that I am not even aware of, are being carefully lead along by God. I know this. There is no question.

Which brings us to the last 6 days.

Thursday Joey had an interview at the YMCA in Orange to be an after-school children's leader in the afternoons. This would be perfect, and there is so much room for him to grow into other positions there. He aced the first interview, and with MUCH patience and nail-biting we waited until today to hear that he is going in for the second interview tomorrow at 11:15am. I don't know if we will actually hear the final decision when the interview is over, but there will definitely be some major celebration if he gets the job. We are trying not to get our hopes up too high, but so far they really like him and he is totally qualified for this job. They even mentioned that there is an assistant director position opening up soon that they think he would be perfect for. Anyways, it's getting me all worked up as I type so I better cool it. I will post when we find out the results.

In the mean time, some nostalgic pictures of the last few years...