7 Years of Dating Bliss

Today marks 7 years since Parker and I started dating. It's not really an anniversary that we celebrate per say, but it's fun to look back and remember the amazing moments that have made up the past 7 years. We've come a long way since 2008! We started dating when we were 19, so we were admittedly very young. There was just something about him that I was so drawn to, and I guess there was something about me that he liked too :). It's fun to see how far we've come! We were just two kids who thought the other one was cute. 7 years later, we've experienced the beauty of marriage, felt simultaneous joy and heartbreak with the loss of our daughter, managed to keep a dog alive, and made countless memories along the way. Every step has made us who we are today, and I wouldn't take back any of it. 

A concept that we have really tried to put into practice since tying the knot is that dating does not stop when you get married. We still need to make time for our relationship and work to foster an even stronger bond with each other as the days go by. You always hear marriage is work, and I suppose at times it is, but it's such fun work. Going on dates is part of that fun work. We are big on date nights and try to go out together at least once a week. We don't usually do anything extravagant, but getting out of the house for a quick bite to eat or catching a movie does wonders! Date night in is also popular in our house. We love watching movies or catching the latest episode of our favorite TV show, Survivor. The point of all of this rambling is that date nights are still important and just as fun post-marriage. 

In honor of the dating anniversary, I pulled some of my favorite dating pictures from the archives. It's been a beautiful ride, and I have loved every minute of it! These pictures are in no particular order, but they all span from 2008-2010. 

This was when he had just come home from a month long cruise with the Navy one summer.

This was at a ball- one of many over the years!

This is one of the first pictures we ever took. We are at my grandparents' house our first summer of dating.

This is a Delta Gamma formal. No, it wasn't themed. For some reason, I thought a flapper dress was a good idea. I don't know why.

This was taken one Friday night hanging out with friends.

This was taken at his parents' house one weekend home.

This was one of our first football games together.

And last but not least, the proposal :)

It's been a great 7 years! Here's to 70 more!