Even though there are miles between us, and eight hours time difference, today my dearest and I celebrated our One Year Anniversary.  There were perhaps less candles and romantic dinners than most typical anniversaries, however Malcolm and I don’t tend to do things in the ‘normal’ way.  And even though we weren’t together for our anniversary, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Supporting one another through our hopes and dreams (and challenges) is perhaps one of our strongest qualities.  Also, I have always found that for us distance simply serves to reinforce all that we love about one another, and enhances our communication.  I know it was during the periods of long distance (where we would have to email, bbm, or talk on the phone) that I fell in love… because that is when we became friends.

My idols in relationships are the couples I see (who look like they’ve been together for 50+ years), and who simply sit there holding hands; or when one gets something for the other even before they ask; how they have long talks and debates but could share space in silence for hours. They are friends first and foremost, and lovers (a close but important) second.  That is my goal for our marriage.  And from the first year, I feel like we’re off to a good start.

We had two beloved friends speak during our ceremony and I thought I would share again the words that touched us so deeply:

Love
I love you
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.
I love you
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what you are making of me.
I love you
For the part of me that you bring out.
I love you for putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can’t help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.
I love you because you
Are helping to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple,
Out of the words
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.
I love you because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good,
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it

Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.
– Roy Croft
(as read by Lynndsey Larre)

From T.S Eliot’s Four Quartets
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, unremembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning
(as part of a reading by Aaron Holzapfel)

So in life (as in love), may we all continue to discover ourselves over & over… and in that knowledge may we become better partners, friends, lovers, siblings, offspring, parents, employees & people.  May we realize that throughout the up and down journey there are so many lessons and opportunities, and throughout it all if we can keep smiling, keep our sense of humour, share a little and perhaps leave things a little better it will be an incredible ride. Enjoy the journey. And to my love – it’s been a wicked ride so far and this is just the beginning. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! ~ eh.

Here are some of our pictures taken by the incredible Lisa Mark (ps. more to come)