Reading material

We have some new reading material.

Now we've definitely got our work cut out for us! :)

Two years

A month ago I walked all over Niagara Falls, NY/ON with this guy.

It was a wonderful almost-anniversary and we savored every minute of it, especially since we knew we wouldn't be able to be together on our actual 2nd anniversary, which just so happens to be today.

Me pre-Hurricane Deck at Cave of the Winds

My reaction to the Hurricane Deck

Jonathan pre-Hurricane Deck at Cave of the Winds

His reaction to the Hurricane Deck

Two years hasn't changed my mind any. He's still my favourite!

(In case you were wondering - Jonathan's poncho is so much shorter than mine because he's wearing a backpack.)

Love you as much as all the water that flows over Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls, Jonathan! Happy 2nd anniversary!

Valentine's Day, home-style

Valentine's Day is an extra special day to me. While my siblings and I were growing up, my parents always did something special for us on Valentine's Day. We had a small gift (often a small Lego set during the early years) waiting for us on our breakfast plates in the morning, and my mum would always make a fun and different breakfast for us that morning, pink pancakes or French toast with hearts cut into the middle, etc. Of course we did the whole Valentine's cards exchange at school, but that was never really what the holiday was about for us. We grew up knowing that February 14 was a day to show love and appreciation to those we care for the most, be they family, friends, or significant others. I still see it as just an awesome day to love people, and not as a particularly romantic holiday as it seems to be touted in the media and in advertising these days. Good job, Mum and Dad, for showing your kids the true meaning of Valentine's Day. You guys are the best and I love you so much!

And now here's a little look at how the homey Valentine's Day celebrations went at the Gerrans'.

Homemade Valentine's dinner

Homecooked/Asian-themed meal, apparently

My love! :) 

Homemade cheesecake with strawberries

Heart sparkler that my mum put in our Christmas stocking

It sparkled really well!

Valentine's package from my mum which, unbelievably, arrived today! 

Exciting mail, haha

The 2013 calendar my mumma made (all her own amazing pictures in it!)

Us on our second married Valentine's Day

Married life

While I was going through my teens and early twenties, my mother often commented that she was so glad to be happily married and forever finished with dating. I never really understood her. I liked the place in my life I was in. I liked getting to know other people, being friends, thinking about more. Although I never dated many guys, I did enjoy being in the dating part of my life. Then I started seriously dating Jonathan, got engaged, and got married. Almost immediately I realized what my mum had meant. Now I'm absolutely thrilled to be finished with dating and on to married life. And I'm sure my kids will never understand me when I tell them that. At least until they're married...

Happy dating anniversary, Jonathan! The three years since we lay side-by-side (but oh so careful not to touch) on that large chilly rock at Southern's Goliath Wall watching the Orionid meteor shower in the early morning dark have been the best of my life. And the nearly fifteen months since our wedding have been the best of all! I can't wait for as many more years together as God sees fit to give us! I love you more than all the meteors that fall during our meteor shower.

Us then - at the SAU Fall Fest a week or two after we started dating

Us now - on our Mexican-themed anniversary picnic

*I wrote this post way back in June when it came to my mind one evening. I carefully saved it away as a draft in my not-often-used blog, intending to post it on our first wedding anniversary. But then Jonathan posted his own blog on August 1st, and I completely forgot about my own until I happened across it when I started using this blog again a couple months ago. Not wanting to wait another year to post it, I decided that our dating anniversary was the next best idea and slightly changed the message to fit the event. Sorry you didn't get to read this on August 1, Jonathan, but I'm happy you can read it before our second anniversary.