There we were, two kids staring at each other from across the room.  Eighteen years old with a magnetic pull to each other that couldn't be explained.  A boy from Louisiana and a girl from Tennessee that were clearly destined to cross paths on this very night.  Feelings that couldn't be explained or understood came to surface and were sealed with a goodnight kiss.  We left the beach that weekend not knowing if we would realistically see each other ever again.  I was off to college, so was he...and we were worlds apart.  Nothing other than divine intervention could be responsible for the events that took place over the course of the next several years. Fast forward to today and we are celebrating our seventh wedding anniversary together and are expecting our first baby in October!

If you would have told me that the boy I met in Panama City Beach would become my husband one day I would have told you that you were a crazy person and I'm sure he would have told you the same.  No matter what happened in life after we met, there was always a strange pull to each other that led us to keeping in touch over the next several years.  A long distance relationship turned into me moving to Louisiana ten years ago to explore how serious this pull to each other actually was.  Turns out it was pretty strong and got stronger with each passing day.  We were still babies when we decided to get married at twenty-four years old, but we loved each other madly and that was enough.  We went through some hard times at the beginning considering we were both still immature and really had no clue how to coexist with another person.  We were selfish, we fought in all the wrong ways, and were completely broke. Somehow through it all, our love won every time keeping us solid in our marriage.  With time we learned what it meant to really love each other and in turn each year got better and better.

Now here we are, seven years in.  He is no longer a boy but a beautiful man that I get to spend the rest of my days with.   I would do anything for this man.  We get each other, him and me. We aren't perfect and we still have our moments where we aren't the best husband or wife.  But that's to be expected because we are still us.  Two individuals living together, keeping our identities while compromising to make this marriage work because we want to.

We are some of the lucky ones who really and truly are in love.  He makes me a better person and I have learned so much about myself by being his wife.  He's my best friend, my lover, my happily ever after...and he's pretty easy on the eyes too!

We have a baby boy arriving in October and my love for this man that I married has grown more than I could have ever imagined and I find my heart exploding.  I've been imagining a little Canean with a similar laugh, the same appetite for life, and his daddy's heart.  I couldn't be more blessed in this life that I have been given.  I won't take it for granted.

They say you get a seven year itch...not us.  Maybe we'll call it lucky number seven.

How'd I get so lucky to spend my life with you, huh?  Happy anniversary baby.  I wouldn't want to do this life without you.  I love you bigger than the beach and then some! XoXo

P.S.  Check out baby boy Chatagnier up there...he's making his presence known!