I met my husband at our schools Valentine’s Day Dance in 2001 and little did I know that it would one day lead to marriage and adventures all over the world.  We had computer class together and a sweet friend introduced us at the dance.  We dated for a few months and did the long distance thing over the summer.  When school started back we went our separate ways as both of us had a lot of growing up to do. We stayed in touch as friends all through undergrad, a deployment, and my graduate school.  During graduate school I took a job as the dormitory manager to pay for school expenses and the last two semesters, he was moved into my dorm.  We became inseparable with his silly humor and my horrible cooking.  Many nights were spent with him studying biology while I made lesson plans and worked on drawings for my fine arts classes.

After Christmas break in 2005 we started dating again and after graduation in May, he headed to south Georgia for training and I moved to Kansas to look for a job teaching.

Later that year we started planning a wedding, a move, and a deployment.  Little did I realize that one small and seemingly insignificant Valentine’s Day dance would have such a huge impact on the rest of my life.  We have grown up and learned so much about each other in the fourteen years we have known each other.  He still makes me laugh and it is really hard to stay mad at someone when they are making you giggle.  He tolerates my organized chaos that is a direct reflection of my artsy brain.

The three biggest tips we would give to any married couple are to:

1. Know Each Others Love Language: When we started marriage counseling with our priest, this was a book that he gave to all his newly engaged couples.  It was so very eye opening to see how differently we received and showed love.  Understanding that has helped stave off arguments and keep the lines of communication open.
2. Don’t Go to Bed Angry: I have made the mistake of doing this before and it kills communication.  The one time I did actually go to bed angry, I woke up feeling worse the next day and it took a lot longer to move forward.
3. Date Your Husband: We have always made it a point to go out on dates once a month.  Whether it is trying a new restaurant or simply walking around Barnes and Noble with a cup of coffee, go on a date.

Check back next week for more of our Wedding Ring Wednesday Series and marriage advice.  If you missed the start of the series, you can check it out here.