34 Years

Today is Ben's 34th birthday.

One year ago today, I met his family (except his sister Kim and her husband Stephen) for the first time.  It was the second time he and I had gone anywhere together, and he'd only eaten dinner with my family once.  We went over to the assisted living home where Grandma Lila was living and ate dinner in the Garden Room, played Wii bowling, and Ben and I drove Grandma Turner home to Dearborn afterward: which is when we discovered we very much enjoyed long car rides together.  I remember sitting next to him on Grandma Turner's couch for the first time.  That took a lot of guts for me to do because I've been a fairly reserved person in my life.

Today is the two-month anniversary of our wedding.  I guess it's safe to say that in some ways, I've become a much less reserved person over the past year.  Ben seems much the same as he did then, though maybe more firmly settled in things he thinks are right and good and important.  This past year has been quite a test for him in many ways, a test of his mind and will and character; and he has come through with shining colors.

It was a very quiet day.  We cleaned the house carefully since we were expecting planned dinner company for the first time.  We got Ben's cake ready and finished the enchilada casserole.  Ben got more dishes out of boxes because we only had five sets in use currently and we needed seven for dinner.  We took a twenty-minute nap while Grandma practiced piano in the afternoon.

Ben says it was the best birthday ever: the first one he's ever celebrated in his own house with a wife.  That's pretty special.  It's the first time I've ever celebrated my husband's birthday, though not the first time I've ever celebrated a birthday with Ben.  It is truly amazing how many things changed in a year; and I have a feeling it's going to feel much the same next January.  Wonder what comparisons we'll be making then?