Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Life with you makes perfect sense, you're my best friend.






A few weeks ago I was going through some old things and I found a list I had made Michael when we were dating:
"One hundred things I love about you."
I read through 2 pages, smiling, because not a lot has changed in the 5 years that I've written that letter. Here we are, no longer babies, but having one of our own.
Ten thousand fights, make ups, movie nights, adventures, tears, and laughs later, it has been 4 years since we said I do.



No one in this world stirs the same kind of emotion inside of me that he does. When we found each other, I didn't even know if I could ever love somebody again. He chased me for a long time, and a lot of "no's" and "I will not be your girlfriend's" later, I finally jumped in.



I would later discover that by saying I do, I was marrying adventure.
First in the form of traveling to places inside myself that I had never been. Meeting your complete opposite and realizing you can't live without them forces you to look down into the roots of who you think you are - and should be.

My entire life I had watched my parents and the kind of love they had. She can't stand him, he's infatuated with her. She gets annoyed and he calls her baby, pulls her close, and everything else melts away. They hold hands, fight like cats and dogs, only to come home again. Disappearing into the wilderness for weeks on end just to spend time with each other and escape anything and everything else that stands in the way. She curses at him under her breath and he laughs and she laughs and somehow, I have never seen two people so incredibly different - her, stubborn, fiery, quick-tempered. Him, calm in his heart, patient, and kind. It's a match that only can be understood when you meet that one person that hushes the fire inside of you, and balances any wrongs that need to feel right.
When I was a little girl I told my sister that when I grew up, I would marry my Dad.



And I met Michael there. In my own fiery battles, lord, I have thrown every inanimate object in this house at his head. And like cats & dogs we hiss and bark and come home again. Through the adventure of finding out these things about myself and learning that I am not always right, and him wrong, or him black, and myself white, we just are. The yin yang that somehow works even though it goes against everything that seems rational and right.



In the last 4 years of marriage we have learned so much about each other that it feels like we lived a lifetime together in some other world, far away from here. Content, safe, and completely comfortable here with my best friend, sometimes looking at him feels like I am looking through at myself.


In 4 months, it will be 7 years since our first kiss and the beginning of our story...where it all began. And in 4 months we will meet our little baby girl, and begin this new adventure with her.
We are so excited to share something real with her, and show her that true love can be ugly, hard, scary, and victorious at the same time.

And in the heart of the battles we are fighting, there is beauty and solace in the hard roads we take to reach happiness, and true love.


44 comments:

  1. gorgeous pictures!! happy anniversary!

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  2. you look so incredibly happy. Soak it up! It is so encouraging to see a young couple to be strong, adventurous and having so much fun. Thanks for sharing!


    xo,

    Molly Jane

    Ps. Stop by and say hello!

    www.browneyedcharmer.blogspot.com

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  3. ahh mason jennings. another road map to my heart.

    My husband and I are opposites too. It's tough at times, but I'd really rather not be with someone like myself.. i'm too difficult :]

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  4. so sweet. and you have yet again introduced me to another musical artist that i like.

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  5. This is such a beautiful post. The love between you and your husband is so palpable in your writing, it's incredible.

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  6. Happy Anniversary! This is an amazing post and what a journey you have had already. I look forward to the tales of many more. I really think it's amazing/awesome that you shared the beginning of your adventure together 7 years ago and now you're starting the next leg of your new adventure together so close to the date of your first kiss with your new baby! I love that! oxox

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  7. This brought a tear to my eye because its exactly how I feel about my fiance - but i can never find words as beautiful as those to express it! There's nothing in the world like love.

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  8. perfect. and beautiful. I love your blog.

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  9. May God bless you both! I see how much He already has!! You guys are beautiful.

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  10. Lovely post Aura. It's a shame the photos flash so quickly - it's hard to get a good look at them! What a wonderful relationship.

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  11. What an amazing post! I love all the pictures - I've looked at them for a while, trying to see each one - they're so fast! :) Thanks for sharing your beautiful story.

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  12. Oh, it's as if you wrote down a play-by-play of my own marriage! I love it when other people come clean about the nature of their arguing in their own relationships. It makes me that much more comfortable in my own - knowing that we aren't the only two crazy lunatics, haha. I wouldn't have it any other way though. Wonderful post, as usual! :)

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  13. Aura, these photos and your love story are so beautiful and so inspiring. What an incredible journey you two have had so far! I can't wait to read about the new ones ahead.

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  14. I needed to see these words today, so thank you.

    You guys are adorable.

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  15. you two are such a beautiful couple! really :)

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  16. hello.
    I have been a lurker...sorry!
    I absolutely love your blog!
    I find you to be a breath of fresh air! I absolutely love your photography and the way you always seem to appreciate the simple moments of life! I always think...appreciated life in all it's beauty is most important!
    Thanks for inspiring me today:)

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  17. this was so cute. the pictures were a bit hard to see since they moved too fast :( but you two are adorable

    http://coffeebeansandcigarettes.blogspot.com/

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  18. Aura, you have such a wonderful story. Truly inspiring. I hope I get to have my own story to tell in the future:)

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  19. such a beautiful post...happy anniversary!

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  20. It was great to read this, I'm happy you two found each other. And I'm happy to realise, that I have found my half too. We went to see a baby boy last night, my heart melt immediately. Never seen anything so tiny and fragile, calm and sweet. can't wait to see your pictures of the baby girl and the happy parents in 4 months :)

    ps. I love the new layout in the sections here, all the related posts so beautifully put together.

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  21. This is awesome. The part about throwing every inanimate object at his head made me laugh because I've done the same and for so long I thought I was awful and the only one who's done that, thank you for posting that. Congrats on your little one. I love reading your posts & photos & adventures and your blog has become one of my favorites.

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  22. LOVE IT.
    You two make a lovely couple.<3
    happy anniversary!!

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  23. I love your words, and totally understand you, when you can make a better person of each other, respecting your own selves, you know you're with the right one. Besos!

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  24. This is so lovely! My hubs and I will be together 7 years in January and married for 5 in March. What a road it has been! I am kicking myself now for not taking more pictures of us together, I'm one of those that hate all pictures of me :) I think now that I just need to suck it up! I dont want to look back in another 7 years and be disappointed. Thank you Aura for being an inspiration once again!

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  25. what a lovely post!! it's so sweet!

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  26. I'm so glad to see such honesty in a blog post. So many blogs leave out messy details and it seems the lives of those posting are disgustingly perfect. You and your husband seem so happy together and it's both refreshing and comforting to know that arguing and heatedly fighting are normal! I love my husband very much but MAN he makes me so mad sometimes too! :) Anyway, I've said this so many times but I love your blog!!! Happy Anniversary!

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  27. Beautifully shared, as always.
    This post makes me ache for more pictures with my love (also named Michael.)
    <3

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  28. It makes me happy to see you happy in love. Happy Anniversary!

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  29. i love what you said about meeting your exact opposite and discovering you can't live without them. i know exactly how you feel.

    these pics are precious. the one on the swing is sooo rad. i wish i had more pictures of my relationship over the years, but alas, never had a camera til recently. treasures!

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  30. Happy Anniversary!
    You have such a wonderful way with words. This post brought tears to my eyes thinking about how lucky we are when we find that special one! And thank you for being so open and honest. Marriage can be ugly sometimes and we need to be reminded that that is okay!

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  31. Hey Aura!!

    I love reading your blog. Your family is beautiful!

    I was wondering what kind of camera and software you use? Your posts are always inspiring!

    Happy anniversary, congratulations on baby girl, and have a wonderful, happy holiday filled with love and peace!

    -Risa

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  32. Congratulations! You guys look so happy!
    I got married about 6 weeks ago and am posting my wedding photos on my blog today - I'd love you to visit:
    http://www.greenpicklesblog.co.uk

    Love from
    Aimee
    x

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  33. Adeline aleclesve@hotmail.comDecember 9, 2010 at 6:55 AM

    Hi aura!
    I was looking for a baha'i ring (to sell) and I found your comment about your cousin and your grand ma's baha'i gems. So lovely. I definitely love your photos and your comments all along the posts, so emotional so tender. Please keep going like that!
    And Good luck with motherhood ;)
    Have a good day,
    Adeline (Paris)

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  34. geez. I think I have like 2 pictures since Cole and I have been married of us together. This needs to change. How did I let that happen?

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  35. You two are so sweet...what a magical world of love you're bringing your little girl into. So beautiful.

    Julie xo

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  36. Love the little peek into your past. Thanks!

    Your wedding day looks like perfection!

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  37. You're great at remembering to take pictures together, even with your camera timer. I love reading about people in love :) I can definitely relate to your feelings!

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  38. You're pictures are always great, but these are the best I've seen. It sometimes seems that the camera was on auto, but you still got the shot!

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  39. Not gonna lie, I just shed some happy tears. Im so happy for you and Michael Aura!

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  40. Hello Aura!

    My name is Miriam and I'm 19 years old & have been following your blog for a couple of months now. I am in my first years of college and it's very hard and frustrating. Sometimes I feel like pulling my hairs out & flying far, far away. Your bloggin' gives me a motivation that helps me get along with the days. Your happiness with your husband enlightens me & shows me that life is just beginnin' & I have a long way to go to reach the many adventures and surprises that are still awaiting. I would like to thank you for being open with parts of your life and showing others an example of how life can viewed through the many lenses of emotions that a heart can possibly feel.

    Miriam a.k.a. Miri

    P.S. Do you carry a stand, I think it's "tripod," to take the pictures of you and your husband when you're out in the woods, beaches, etc. or do you have someone take them for you? I'm curious.

    It's really amazing how you carry your creativity through your photographs.

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I love your words, advice, stories, and support more than you know. Thank you, thank you, thank you for always adding a bit of light to my day when you leave little notes.

Aura