13 years. I can't believe it's been that long...Sept. 2, 1995.
I wrote about how we met last year on my blog.
The year before we got married was the longest year of my life. Waiting to see if he would be able to get a visa to come here...crushed when the first one was denied (and when you are 20 years old, it feels like it's the end of the world).
But we applied for a fiancee' visa (yep, I didn't know there was one called that either until that year) and had a wonderful family friend offer him a job and financial security so he finally got the visa.
We had 3 months to get married from the time he entered the country. And we weren't sure when he would get approved so we started planning the wedding after he was here. It was wonderful - so much help from so many friends. The location was beautiful.
The only part I wish I could do over again was my dress...I really wish I could have found one I really loved instead of one I just liked (and shoes too). But oh well, I know now it's not the wedding or the dress that makes a marriage..it just you and him and your commitment to each other. In good times and in bad.
Our vows were bilingual...he spoke his vows in English and I did mine in Spanish. We had a family friend take the photos and after dinner, everyone danced the night away to oldies songs.
(that is a look of "Oh, you are going to get it!")
Oh, but first we had the cake cutting smashing...poor guy, he had thick, crisco-type frosting everywhere..in his eyes, his nose. It was bad.
Not as bad as my brother fainting during the ceremony though. He hadn't slept much the night before or eaten anything that morning. I was looking at the minister and then saw my brother smiling widely, taking steps backward. All of a sudden he flipped over the tiny stone wall behind him and fell in the grass. He was o.k. - to this day it is still one of the main things people remember about my wedding.
So we started out with a "bang" and are still going strong today. He is the kindest, most patient man I have ever met. He really has to be to put up with me.
Te amo mi amor, por siempre y para siempre.
