Marriage is...

This blog idea came after a phone call from my parents. They called to basically tell us about these weird things they do and if we did them to, then we were also weird. We had two out of three on their list. :) But anyway, it got me thinking. What is marriage? So here we go!

Marriage is... 

• Committing your life to another person
• Being able to compromise
• Building forts in the living room when you have no other furniture 
• Being willing to sacrifice 
• Trying to guess how much your grocery bill will be 
• Finishing each others sentences 
• Being able to laugh at each other
• Feeling completely comfortable with that person
• Living with your best friend
• Experiencing all those "firsts" together
• Hopefully having a family together
• Going to the bathroom with the door open (TMI?) :) 
• Leaving each other notes around the house or in luggage 
• Chasing thunderstorms and not being afraid of getting caught in the rain
• Having inside jokes that are only funny to the two of you
• Camping in your spare bedroom
• Having someone who helps you grow as a person and grow as a couple
• Learning to take care of someone else 
• Being thankful you found your other half 
• Having someone to enjoy your interests with 
• Not being afraid of arguing as long as you're always prepared to say "I'm Sorry"
• Being able to miss that other person, even if they're just in the next room
• Holding hands whenever you feel like it 
• Learning to budget 
• Being able to not have to do or even say anything when you're together
• A marathon, not a sprint
• Having someone to watch "Friends" with and then quoting it non-stop
• Running to the store at 10pm because your wife has a chocolate craving
• Learning to divide up responsibilities/chores around the house 
• Never going to bed angry
• Having someone to dance with 
• Completely ruining dinner or a dessert and being able to laugh at it 
• Saying the exact same thing and the exact same time
• Hard work, everyday 
• Trying to find excuses to get the other person to do something you want 
• An adventure 
• Having someone to share your crazy dreams with, even if they don't make sense 
• Singing as loud as you can on long car trips
• Purposely wearing matching clothes 
• Trying to find each others reflex spot, just for the fun of it
• Making plans for your future and being able to adapt when they don't work out
• Supporting each other in everything you do 
• Having someone to kiss anytime you want 
• Offering to drive when you're drugged on pain killers and bleeding from the mouth when your wife is faint from the sight of that blood 
• Learning from the good examples your parents set for you 
• Having someone to grow old with
• Knowing that after a long day you can get in your easy clothes and cuddle on the couch
• Respecting each other 
• Endless back rubs :) 
• Appreciating the little things in each other 
• Creating memories
• Making sure God always has a place in your relationship
• A lifetime together 
• Having someone to love and to love you back 

A Letter to Laura

My dearest Laura,

When I first met you, you were just this cute little freshman living across the hall from me in Centennial Hall at Wartburg College. You had a personality that you couldn't help but love. :) We became friends quickly.

Throughout our time as friends we've had a great number of memories. Some of my favorites... Watching Grey's Anatomy every week and even building quite an impressive Grey's Anatomy shrine over our TV when we lived together. Or taking pictures with St. Francis. At midnight. In our suits. What about that time we celebrated St. Patrick's Day and tried to take pictures of a shadows on that walk home... with a flash. I certainly remember that time you helped find "strippers" for my birthday. And that jersey party... well actually I'm not sure how much of that I do remember. :) I remember making and rocking our awesome duct tape outfits for Outfly and coming in first place, thank you! I remember that year you were my lovely Valentine's Day date at the Mensa and I remember watching the election results with you and literally jumping up and down on the couch at the Democratic sweep. I remember making a pretty kick-a$$ music video with you as well! And then there was our trip to South Africa and Germany. With that trip alone I could name a hundred more memories but I'll just touch on my favorite: Getting to row the boat in Germany, you being so excited to run through the glass sliding door at our hostel but not realizing that since we were back so late they had been locked and you running right into the glass doors, recording creepy voices on my stuffed bear and trying to scare the others outside their tents and pretty much everything else in between.

When Amanda called to tell me about your accident, she had seen it on Facebook before I had, I was in a bit of shock. I couldn't believe it. I can't imagine how something like this could happen to such a great person, especially while doing something you so obviously love doing. I quickly jumped online to try and find as much information as possible. Your amazing friend Kathleen set up a CaringBridge page and by the ever-increasing number of visitors, a lot of people are relying on that for information on you. Myself included.

The other thought I kept thinking was how sad I was that I haven't been a better friend and tried to keep in touch with you more. Because I don't know if you know this, but you are an amazing person.

You see, social media has been great because you feel like you can stay in touch with people so much easier. But part of me wonders if that's just an illusion. I think social media does make it easier to stay in touch and connect with people but it can also make it easier for you to drift away from people with less phone calls or meeting up with those "long-lost" friends.

I think that's what I let happen with our friendship. I let social media be enough. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing your face show up on my news feed, reading your status updates and seeing all the pictures you post. But I could have been better at texting you, or even writing on your wall more. Asking how you're doing. Or telling you how amazing of a person you are and what your friendship means to me.

And since there's no time like the present, here it goes:

Laura, you are an incredibly wonderful and awesome person. You are a beautiful person but more important than that, you have such a beautiful soul. Your spirit, energy and personality shine and light up any room you're in. You are such a fun and funny person. Most of my memories with you include a lot of laughing. You have touched the lives of so many people. Just reading through the guestbook on your CaringBridge page will show anyone that.

But one of the things I admire most about you is how strong of a person you are. You, at least from what I can tell, without a doubt know who you are. You have your beliefs, your values, your passions. You know what these are and you go and you fight for them. Your internship at Denver Bike Sharing is enough to show that. You have truly taken life by the horns and are living every day to the fullest. You have no idea how much I admire you for that. Even more, I admire the fact you really know what you want to be doing in life and you're doing it! You're not just sitting back thinking about what you would like to do or how you would want to live your life. You're out there!! Not everyone can do that. And that's one of the reasons I love keeping an eye on you on Facebook so much! :) You are an inspiration to me. And I'm sure that you are an inspiration to many others. So thank you.

And thank you for our friendship. Even though we haven't stayed in touch that well, you have made an impact on my life. And You continue to do so, even if you don't know it! You have made a difference in my life and I am a better person for being your friend. I consider myself blessed to have you as a friend.

I'm going to make a vow to become a better friend. Not only to you, but to all of my friends that I "stay connected" with through Facebook. Because your accident reminds all of us that life can change in an instant. And it's important to tell those you love just how much they mean to you.

Laura, I hope that this letter has shown you that from me. And to all of my other friends, I hope you all know how much you mean to me as well. And I'm going to find time to talk to you all soon.

Laura, there are so many good thoughts, get well soon wishes, healing vibes and prayers that are being sent to Colorado from all over the country, I think we might actually be able to see them shoot across the sky. So please, get better soon. There are so many of us rooting for you and ready to be here and help encourage you throughout your recovery. When I'm out in Denver in October, I'm going to do my best to be able to make a trip to see you and be just one of the many there to help you on this road. I'm looking forward to seeing you then. And to catching up soon. And to staying in touch with you so that I can watch and see all the amazing things you're going to continue to do with your life.

All of my love,
Liz

PS I thought I would add some pictures from all our fun crazy times! Because who doesn't love looking at old pictures and laughing at themselves!? :) 

Watching Edwards speak at Wartburg in 2007

Wartburg Homecoming 2008

Fall 2009

Summer 2008

St. Patrick's Day

A picture of our shadows :)

Ready for the jersey party!

Yup.

OUTFLY!

Roommate love :)

Go Dems! :)

Warburg vs. Luther 2007

Valentine's Date 2006

Us at the Wartburg Castle, May Term 2006

Rowing a boat in Germany! :)

With our stuffed animals, Africa

Swimming in the rain in Africa

Right after we took a dip in the ocean, South Africa

Pretending to fall from the sky... South Africa

4-wheeling in Namibia

Us with the guy to let us row the boat :)

I added this picture because it was one that you, Laura, took from our trip to South Africa.
The caption was "me and my sisters"

Sorry for so many pictures! But there were a lot more I could have added as well! :) We had some good times Laura. And here's hoping we have many more!