Our first year

Preface - I know this blog is about 2 weeks late, but with the craziness and busyness of our life, I'm ok with being 2 weeks late. You'll still enjoy it all the same! :)

I can't believe we already have been married one year. It has gone by so fast and I have enjoyed every minute of it. On April 28, 2007, I became Mrs. Randy Harrelson. Wow! All my life I've only been known as Rachel Marie Dugger, now I was Rachel Marie Harrelson. Much more changed than just my name.

This past year I have learned so much about myself and about life as a whole. Living with another human who you committed your life to forever is different than just living with a roommate. I can't just not see him when I am frustrated with him - he lives here too! He has to adjust to living with a girl who forgets to put up the curling iron and hair dryer in the mornings, and who sheds - alot. We have had to learn how to do life together on a whole new level. Arguments have to be talked out (not always right away) and frustrations have to be voiced. We can't keep stuff bottled up inside us because it always eventually comes out - and sometimes that isn't pretty.

Joys and victories are shared and something about sharing them makes them that much more special. He is my encourager and I get to be his cheerleader. I've had to learn to let go of the little stuff and look beyond the annoyances, to the man I get to be married to. The man who loves to be silly and knows how to have fun. The man who can't seem to remember to put his dishes in the dishwasher, but always greets me with a hug and a kiss when I get home from work. The man who will go get milk for us at 11 o'clock at night even though he has to get up at 5:30 the next morning for work.

It's funny how much things have changed in just a year. When we first were married, I could hardly sleep for his snoring/breathing, but now when he is gone overnight for clinicals - I just don't sleep as well. We still have our moments of frustration, but I think we are learning how to communicate better and to think about the other person first. We're not perfect, believe me. And we have a long way to go, but God is good. He promised that he would carry this good work on to completion and that is exactly what he is doing.

So as we start our second year as husband and wife, I love you Randy! I can't wait to see what this year holds for us. It has been and is such an honor to be your wife and best friend. I love you (more than you know).