Today is our 8-year anniversary, though that seems like the understatement of a lifetime; we’ve been together for almost 16 years and in just a couple more years, that means we will have been together for half our lives. We dove head-first and intensely into a relationship as raucous, silly, emotionally-charged teenagers, and the fact that our relationship survived past the volatile stage of college craziness is amazing. But it did. We pushed through, always magnetically drawn closer together every summer break when we found ourselves with more one-on-one time in-between summer jobs and long distance. We could not stay apart, even through graduate school when we were separated by hundreds of miles, whispering into our phones late every night, letting the silences become comfortable and the heartsickness be felt.
We have become, over the years, closer than I knew was possible between two separate people. It’s not that we finish each other’s sentences, it’s that we say the same things at the same time so often I fear our minds have melded into one — and they haven’t, of course. It’s that everything has been discussed, everything has been forgiven, everything has become an inside joke and everything can be conveyed through a subtle look. We are on the same wavelength, riding along together. He has been my partner for so long that I cannot imagine my life anymore without him, cannot remember very well my life before him; it’s as if he was always there with me.
And yes, we argue. We annoy each other and get into disagreements and it’s always, always okay. We can see the big picture, the history and the future and everything we are to each other. He is my best friend, the gentle and funny and passionate father of my children, he is an admirable public speaker with poise and grace and humility. He is thoughtful and kind and HANDSOME and awesome. I am so proud of him, so proud to be with him, to be by his side through thick and thin. I am so very much in love with this man. Happy Anniversary, Andrew! 
Here’s to eternity!
P.s. 12 Relationship Tips from a Wedding Reporter… I thought this was really insightful!
Happy anniversary! Loved reading this – so perfect!
Happy Anniversary, you guys!
Happy Anniversary!!!
Happy anniversary. I loved this post. Especially the late night long distance phone calls. M and I met in grad school, but when we started dating he was working in Minneapolis and I was still in school. I’m guessing by your timeline that those phone calls meant real long distance bills – ours were pre-cell phone / pre-universal plans. I used to dread opening those bills, and we’d recommit each month to more letter writing! I still have hundreds of letters we wrote back and forth to one another.
Thanks for bringing those memories to the surface with your own lovely writing. Wishing you both many, many more years of happiness together.
Happy anniversary!
Nicely written, Lauren. Happy anniversary to both of you.
Oh you guys are just the best. Happy happy anniversary! I love how sweetly and succinctly you put this. I find it’s really difficult to write about relationships without being too cutesy and overly complimentary (I often think husbands are painted as perfect superheroes on blogs in particular, and while the guys in question are fantastic and supportive and good guys, none of us are perfect… I hope!). You do a very nice job of not listing any complaints, and yet painting a real picture.
Congratulations and enjoy!
Ps. I looove those pics of you with sleeping Emil. So good.
Happy 8 years. Marriage is the best right!
Happy Anniversary, Guys! I bet it was a good one! I love how you write about you two. It makes me happy when good folks find good folks and stick together. It makes me happy to know that it can be done. It makes me happy for you and your family, that you’ve built this unit of love and understanding and solidarity. Blessings and well-wishes to many many many more years!
Oh, this is beautiful- you two are beautiful! Happy anniversary!
Happy anniversary 🙂
As always beautifully written, Happy Anniversary to you two!!
You guys are so adorable, ah! I loved reading your sweet and honest words, and it brought great perspective and encouragement only 5 years in 🙂 Happy Anniversary!