Today, I wish my sweet Eric a very happy anniversary! {Eric’s note: And a very happy anniversary to you too, Heather!} Ten years ago today, we became an official “item;” and nine years ago today, we stood in front of a crowd at my home church and vowed to be together till death.
We have come a long way since then! Some days, it is hard to believe we’ve been married nine years. Other days, I cannot believe we’ve only been married nine years. ~smile~ Let me just tell you – we are still together and happy by God’s grace.
Month-iversaries (or Mensiversaries)
Because we were officially together on an 11th day of the month (and because we were married on the 11th day of that same month a year later), when we were first married, we tried to celebrate the 11th of every month by dining at our favorite Thai food restaurant. It gave us something to look forward to each month, kept our wedding celebration going, and gave us a great excuse to eat some tasty food.
Unfortunately, we have not kept this monthly date up over the years, but we do recommend doing something like it. It was a lot of fun when we did it! If you are a newlywed, or about to get married, consider going on a date each month on your “month-iversay.” ~smile~
But why wait? If you and your sweetie know the day of the month you became “a couple,” try to go on a special date on that day each month. Can’t remember the actual day you became a couple? Then do you remember when you had your first date? If not, pick a day of the month to celebrate as your special day.
You are welcome to take your cues from us and pick a favorite restaurant to visit each month or you can be completely spontaneous and pick something different to do from month-to-month. All I ask is that you try to keep your month-iversary celebrations going longer than we did. ~smile~ In fact, we should start those up again. What do you think, Eric? ~wink~ {Eric’s note: Sounds good to me!}
Anniversaries
If you are going to celebrate each month, then you really need to kick it up a notch for anniversaries. To make it fun, don’t just celebrate the anniversary of your wedding or first date, but celebrate several anniversaries. The anniversary of your engagement. The anniversary of the day you first said, “I love you” to each other. If you have a special date in your relationship, celebrate it!
Reenactments are a terrific way to celebrate anniversaries. Where did you go on your first date? Where were you when you first said, “I love you”? Where did he propose? Try to find a way to replicate your special day and surprise your sweetie. Gentlemen, if you remember details, your lady will be impressed. I almost guarantee it. ~wink~
If reenactments are not your cup of tea, consider doing a surprise for your sweetie. You could blindfold her and drive her to a special picnic blanket in the park, complete with a gourmet picnic meal. You could get tickets to a game or concert he would love and catch him completely off guard! You can even put anniversary date ideas on small pieces of paper and pull one out of a hat each year. If you are a spontaneous type, you would probably enjoy the suspense and lack of planning involved!
Thank you, Eric
Nine years, Honey. Nine years! Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was sitting behind you in PSYC 405 – our Group Dynamics class. Little did I know that you were my future hubby….
- Thank you for inviting me to go horse-back riding. I wish I had said “yes” now. ~smile~
- Thank you for inviting me to the movies – and thank you even more for not holding my hand. My pride wanted to believe you were into me, but you did not lead me on.
- Thank you for being honest with me when your feelings changed and for never playing games with my heart.
- Thank you for paying attention to me and planning the perfect marriage proposal.
- Thank you for not freaking out and yelling at me the night I accidentally tore the front right fender off of your brand new car. Your calm reaction was just further confirmation that I was marrying the right guy for me.
- Thank you for agreeing to have the wedding in my hometown so my family would not have to travel and so I could fulfill my dream of getting married in my home church.
- Thank you for taking me to Lake Tahoe for our honeymoon and for letting me experience the place you spent your treasured family vacations.
- Thank you for keeping a level head the day I melted plastic containers in the oven by accident. I should have listened to you and not hidden the dirty containers from our company in the oven the day before…
- … And thank you for not losing it on me the time I accidentally set our kitchen on fire… and for the other times I set off the fire alarm. You really do know how to act calmly under pressure. ~smile~
- Thank you for being a good sport when I go several times a year to visit my family. I know you have to work and it means the world to me to still be able to get to see them – and I guess you must know that.
- Thank you for working so incredibly hard to provide for us and for not taking the easy way out of anything. ~smile~
- Thank you for encouraging me to grow, blossom, and reach my potential.
- More than anything, thank you for being so completely committed to our marriage and for the peace I have in knowing that you are not going anywhere.
You have been what I needed in a husband (though, not necessarily what I thought I wanted at the beginning!) and I thank God for you – even on those days you drive me crazy. ~smile~ I’m looking forward to the next nine years.
What mensiversary or anniversary ideas do you have or have you done?