Six years ago today I woke up very early in Logan, Utah. I did all the things you imagine a girl to do the morning of her wedding day. I powdered my nose, primped, used plenty of mascara, primped some more, and left my hair to a professional.

My Dad drove me to the hair appointment. I still remember that early drive with the beautiful view of the Cache Valley mountains as we descended from the hill where my Dad’s close friend lived, who my family all stayed with the night before the big day. I really don’t remember what we talked about. Maybe that’s a little sad, I’m sure as father and daughter we talked about the big day ahead of me, but all I know is we were together and that made it special. 

My Cowboy picked me up from the hair appointment and together we drove to the Logan Temple. There we met our parents and appropriately prepared for the biggest thirty minutes of our lives. He may have seen my hair and make-up before the ceremony, but he didn’t catch so much as a glimpse of my dress until just moments before we became husband and wife.

In those moments he stepped on my dress, and a loud “crrrrch” sound followed. Fortunately it was the puffy slip underneath. Don’t worry folks, all he ripped was my slip.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we perform temple wedding ceremonies, called sealings. They are short, sweet, and beautiful. Ours was no exception. I tried so hard to hang onto every word that was said, but can really only remember a few phrases here and there. Regardless, I certainly felt the solemnity of the promises we made to one another and to God as the two of us started on our journey of becoming one. 

It is hard to wrap my head around the fact that this day was six years ago.

I know six years is so short compared to the lifetime and beyond we have together, but I still sit here in disbelief of how fast time speeds by. 

These have been six full years- six years full of innumerable good things that have come our way. Along with those good things has been some sorrow, testing, much happiness, and a lot of growth. Together, these things have served as strengthening forces for the foundation of our marriage. 

I am grateful for the ways the last six years have shaped us and I look forward to the years together that will continue to do so as time marches on. The last seven months found me in a place emotionally that I had to cling to my spouse in a way I have never had to before. I have always relied on My Cowboy and will continue to do so, because it is part of sharing your life with someone, but the depth at which I had to rely on him changed. It was hard- hard for both of us.

Hard is good. Hard passes and sometimes there is a little reprieve. Then eventually more hard comes. I learned there is nobody I would rather share the hard with than this cowboy. 

I love My Cowboy and am so grateful our paths crossed six-in-a-half years ago. We met when I was eighteen and were married six months later when I was nineteen. I don’t know why I was blessed to find him when I was so young, but there is no doubt in my mind God intended it to be that way. We have a lot of similarities, similar backgrounds, similar interests, and we also have some differences.

All in all, I knew from the start we were a good match and as time passes that truth unfolds more and more clearly to me.

Here’s to six years!

PS. I just had to share this last photo, because it has a lot of great faces.