10 years of marriage. Joseph will probably always joke and tell you, “It only feels like it’s been 10 minutes…under water!”
And that, ladies and gentleman, is who I happily married as a young, 22-year-old 🙂
If I knew then what I know now, I’d go back to the morning of our wedding day and tell my younger self that so many adventures, struggles, happiness, and growth were coming our way. And that as hard as it was to imagine, in 10 years, we would love each other a whole lot more than we even thought we did that day.
Both Joseph and I are blessed to have parents in long-lasting marriages (his parents 41 years of marriage, and my parents 43 years) so when people ask us, “What have you learned as a married couple” we hardly feel qualified to answer that question. We just tell them, “If you wake up tomorrow and love your spouse a little bit more than you did today, your love for each other will always continue to grow.”
So that’s really what we’ve been doing these past 3652 days (adjusted for leap years) and we will continue to do tomorrow and the next day and the day after that.
We wanted to have a little fun on the blog today in celebration of our anniversary and share a little peek into our marriage and who we are as a married couple. My friend and blogger, Joy Lynn Lifestyle posted a marriage interview on her blog a while back and I loved the idea so I thought we’d do something similar. It’s kind of like The Newlywed Game meets get-to-know-you date night questions meets couples counseling (ha!) with some embarrassing throw back photos sprinkled in. Enjoy!
HOW LONG HAD YOU BEEN DATING UNTIL YOU WERE PRETTY SURE YOU WERE GOING TO MARRY YOUR SPOUSE?
Joseph: I would say probably around a year.
Kathleen: I actually knew before we started dating. I remember seeing him walking across campus one day when we were still in the close friends stage and I said out loud to myself, “I don’t know how it’ll happen, but I’m going to marry that boy one day.” I don’t think I’ve ever told Joseph that.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MARRIAGE NOW, THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW 10 YEARS AGO?
Joseph: I still feel like I know nothing about marriage. I would say that the biggest thing I know now is that you can only get out of marriage what you are willing to put into it. The times when I feel our marriage is the most enjoyable are the times when I am making it a point to maintain and improve our relationship; not simply “coasting” along.
Kathleen: Your spouse won’t change much after marriage. How they are while you’re dating (the pros and the cons) is most likely how they will always be. Thank goodness!
IF YOUR SPOUSE WAS AN ANIMAL, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD THEY BE?
Joseph: She is hardworking, and loves to work on her house so I guess she would be a beaver.
Kathleen: Joseph is nocturnal, a man of few words, and super smart/wise, so…an owl?
WHAT DO YOU FINISH MORE OF: EACH OTHER’S SANDWICHES, SENTENCES, OR LAST NERVES?
Joseph: Sandwiches. We share whatever food the kids leave behind.
Kathleen: Joseph finishes my sandwiches, if Wyatt doesn’t beat him to it first.
OUR FIRST KISS MADE ME THINK __________
Joseph: I hope she enjoyed that as much as I did!
Kathleen: Finally!
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOUR SPOUSE EVER COOKED FOR YOU? WAS IT GOOD?
Joseph: Baked chicken…and no, it was terrible.
Kathleen: I want to say it was either baked mac and cheese or a full breakfast. I don’t remember it being bad, so it must have been good! The first thing I ever cooked for him was a complete disaster.
WHAT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST MEMORY OF YOUR SPOUSE?
Joseph: Our parents knew each other before we were born so before we started college together, she came to my house in Alabama with her parents for dinner. I made sure that I was working that night so that I didn’t have to go with them. Dinner with my parents’ friends and their daughter sounded lame to me.
Kathleen: A family Christmas card photo of him in the 5th grade.
WHO WOULD YOU CAST TO PLAY YOUR SPOUSE IN A MOVIE?
Joseph: Meg Ryan. Taking from her role in “You’ve Got Mail”
Kathleen: Probably Jake Gyllenhaal. People are always stopping him and asking if anyone’s ever told him he looks like Jake Gyllenhaal.
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOUR SPOUSE WOULD BUY IF THEY WON THE LOTTERY?
Joseph: A savings account, and then probably houses for family members. She never wants to buy things for herself.
Kathleen: Probably something for his XBox or lunch at Panera.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE HARDEST PART ABOUT MARRIAGE?
Joseph: Communication. I am not a very good communicator so making it a point to make sure that we are on the same page is hard sometimes.
Kathleen: Deciding what to eat for dinner.
NAME A TME YOU WERE MOST PROUD OF YOUR SPOUSE
Joseph: When she birthed our children, but especially our second child because she did it all-natural, at home.
Kathleen: We were driving home from a day date a few years ago, a woman’s car had died in the middle of a very busy road, and it was pouring rain outside. He immediately pulled over and got out to push her car to safety while so many cars kept driving by. It doesn’t seem like anything extraordinary, but he’s always doing things like that: seeing a need and just doing whatever it takes to fix it or help, without even thinking twice.
WHAT IS YOUR SPOUSE’S MOST ANNOYING HABIT?
Joseph: I’m a pretty laid back guy so not much gets on my nerves and I can’t think of anything that really annoys me. The closest thing might be that she doesn’t close her drawers on her dresser all the way and my OCD must. close. all. of. them.
Kathleen: Hmm he’s pretty tidy and considerate when it comes to most things, but maybe putting dirty dishes on the counter instead of in the dishwasher? Or putting oregano essential oil on his bad toe before coming to bed and then all I can think about is pizza sauce while I’m trying to fall asleep.
ARE YOU MORE OPPOSITE OR SIMILAR?
Joseph: I’d say we’re opposite for most things.
Kathleen: 100% completely opposite. He’s a Meyers Briggs ENTP and I’m an ISFJ. He’s an Enneagram 5 and I’m a 2. If you know, then you KNOW.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’RE REALLY OPPOSITE ABOUT?
Joseph: Noise. She loves to just sit in silence and I love to always have sound, even background sounds.
Kathleen: Joseph only thinks in logic and I only think with emotion. We’re basically Penny and Leonard from Big Bang Theory.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’RE REALLY SIMILAR ABOUT?
Joseph: We are both homebodies. We love to be at home and avoid crowds.
Kathleen: We both prefer small groups of people because we hate crowds.
WHAT IS YOUR SPOUSE MOST AFRAID OF?
Joseph: Flying. She hates it.
Kathleen: I don’t know, he’s pretty fearless and I wish it would rub off on me! Maybe failure…or wasps?
WHAT WERE YOUR TOP 3 MOMENTS TOGETHER FROM THIS LAST YEAR?
Joseph: The birth of Willow, our first date without any kids since Wyatt’s birth, and last Christmas – the first Christmas that we really got to enjoy with our kid(s).
Kathleen: The birth of Willow, we started going on date nights, and getting photos taken together.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR SPOUSE AS A PARENT?
Joseph: How committed to doing what she thinks is best for the kids even if it is a sacrifice for her. Like breastfeeding for as long as the kids want, even though it is a huge inconvenience.
Kathleen: His patience and ability to connect with what they need in that moment is amazing.
WHAT IS YOUR SPOUSE’S FAVORITE TV SHOW?
Joseph: Big Brother.
Kathleen: Game of Thrones. We’re both sad that it’s almost over.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO SEE YOUR SPOUSE WEARING?
Joseph: Nothing.
Kathleen: A v-neck tee and fitted jeans (or joggers if we’re hanging out at home).
WHAT IS YOUR SPOUSE’S FAVORITE FOOD?
Joseph: Salad.
Kathleen: He really doesn’t have one. Maybe a rare guilty pleasure of a Taco Bell bean burrito?
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR WEDDING DAY?
Joseph: The music. We had some friends play/sing for us that were awesome.
Kathleen: How small and intimate it was. Including the wedding party, we only had 74 guests. It was nice to be able to sit and visit with every person there.
WHAT IS A SURE-FIRE WAY TO GET ON YOUR SPOUSE’S NERVES?
Joseph: Eat crunchy chips near her.
Kathleen: Ask him too many questions right in a row or ask him a question more than once. The fact that he’s answering all of these questions is true love ha!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO TOGETHER?
Joseph: I love going to see a movie together.
Kathleen: Lazy mornings when we can watch a movie with breakfast in bed.
WHAT WORD BEST DESCRIBES YOUR SPOUSE IN THE MORNING?
Joseph: Busy. She feeds the kids and gets them going as I’m getting ready and headed out to work.
Kathleen: Confused. He’s a night owl and currently takes the night shift with Willow so waking up is a struggle.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL THAT YOUR SPOUSE COOKS?
Joseph: Breakfast (for any meal). I love breakfast foods.
Kathleen: Joseph isn’t much of a cook, not because he can’t but because he doesn’t like to. He makes a mean breakfast though! Pancakes, bacon, eggs, etc.
WHAT IS YOUR SPOUSE’S SIGNATURE DANCE MOVE?
Joseph: The shimmy, but we don’t really dance. We’re both not very good at it.
Kathleen: He grew up Baptist. He can’t dance.
WHAT PERSONALITY TRAIT MADE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR SPOUSE THAT THEY STILL EXEMPLIFY TODAY?
Joseph: Kindness. She is the kindest person I know. She always wants to do things to help others.
Kathleen: His ability to make people feel like they can do whatever they set their mind to. He’s naturally confident and that rubs off in the form of encouragement to go after your own dreams and ideas.
WHO IS THE SPENDER?
Joseph: Me for sure. Kathleen would save every penny if I let her.
Kathleen: Normally I’d say Joseph because I’m such a penny pincher, but with a new baby girl and middle of the night nursing sessions, I can’t stop online shopping for all the cute clothes!
WHAT IS ONE ITEM YOU LIKE THAT YOUR SPOUSE WOULD LOVE TO GET RID OF?
Joseph: My XBox. She’s not a fan.
Kathleen: Probably my super huge pregnancy pillow. We’re always moving it all over the place because it takes up a lot of space.
IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING TOGETHER?
Joseph: Having someone with me that I can always count on to listen, help, and support me through anything that life brings. I love knowing that we’re there for each other, whenever it is needed.
Kathleen: Being able to have my best friend with me every single day!
I LOVE this. You two were made for each other !! So fun to see your story unfold in photos !! Love you both ♥️
Oh my goodness. I have so much to say. First of all, the hometown newspaper photo, I saw your face and was pretty sure Wyatt’s face got like glued over yours?! Wow!
I love that Joseph thinks you are a beaver hahaha..
You seem to both appreciate a good breakfast which makes you both that much more awesome in my mind because breakfast food is the greatest.
We had only 75 guests at our wedding too! We actually did a morning wedding and brunch reception. Loved having an intimate wedding!
#homebodies
And oh my gosh, my pregnancy pillow also cannot seem to find a home haha!
You two are so cute! Love this post to pieces.
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