Today, April 1st, marks two years of marriage with Rob! Two  years. Some days, it feels like our wedding day was just yesterday… and other moments, it feels like we’ve been married for a dozen years, in the very best way possible. The past two years have been filled with so, so much pure joy and unabashed happiness, and life is simply so much sweeter and more full together. Marriage is such an undeserved gift, and it’s the very best gift we’ve been given this side of Heaven.

There is so much I want to say about marriage and being married to Rob, and these past two years have surely been the happiest years of my life. Through the ups and downs of life, in the conversations and laughter and tears, in the big moments and the every day, in all of it, having Rob by my side is the greatest blessing and such an answered prayer. To get to share this life with Rob by my side, to joyfully live life together, to know that we are always on each other’s team, to grow and grow old together, to spending the rest of our days loving each other… this is the good stuff of life, and for this, I am wildly grateful and eternally blessed.

“I vow to pursue your heart and love you the way God does: unconditionally and never-ending.”

When I’m 80, I can vividly imagine what I hope my life will look like, and this man right here is the most important part of that dream and the life we want to live. When Rob and I are 80, we’ll be joyfully and gratefully celebrating fifty years of marriage (!!), knowing that life is simply better together. We’ll be holding hands tightly as we rock together on our front porch, telling stories over and over, reminiscing on a life fully lived, and laughing til we cry. We’ll be surrounded by our children and a yard full of our grandchildren happily running around, knowing that our family and our legacy will live on fully in these loving, joyful, kind, adventurous, fun, giving people that we will have somehow helped shape.

We will gather around the dinner table together; holding hands and giving deep thanks, encouraging other, enjoying all that life had to offer, knowing that family and love are the most important things. We’ll have delicious food and deep belly laughs and lots of real connections. Rob and I will catch each other’s eyes and smile gratefully and knowingly at each other, simply realizing how blessed we are and how full of love our lives are. Our family and our home are and will be rooted in faith, in legacy, in intentional moments, in creating joyful memories, in celebrating abundantly, in adventures near and far, in giving generously, in serving the Lord and others wholeheartedly, and in unapologetic love.

Our dreams for this life together are so vivid and real and deeply rich. What an incredible blessing — and one that I pray I’ll never take for granted.

“We love because He first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19

Rob Shaul, I love you with all of my heart and always will. Marrying you was the easiest, best, and happiest decision of my life, and being married to you is more incredible than I ever dreamt it could be. Thank you for the countless ways you love me, pursue my heart, make me laugh, encourage me, and make this life we share so darn fun. You are my greatest blessing and biggest adventure, and I love you forever!

all photos are by our dear friends Ally + Bobby!

PS: alllll of our wedding posts can be found here!!