3 years.

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Aaron and I were recently reading the paper together and saw a picture celebrating a couple who had been married for 75 years. We both were in a happy kind of shock. For a couple to stay together for 75 years is such a stellar accomplishment. Hearing stories of couples like this brings tears to my eyes. I can only hope that one day we will be one of these couples. What an incredible journey those 75 years must have been for them. How many crazy stories they must have, how many roadblocks have they hit, graduations, tears and joys. I want to interview them! 

Aaron and I are celebrating our three year wedding anniversary this week. In the last three years we have had our far share of problems. There has been a bit of a learning curve for sure. One of my favorite (and very thrilling, lol) moments this year happened on our trip to Morocco. 

We were out in the Sahara Desert…and it was HOT (captain obvious-lol). We were about to go on a two hour camel ride. I was rearing to go. After all, I had ridden camels about three times before, so I was basically the "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman" of camels. What could go wrong, right?! Well, just as I was getting on my camel, it reared back its head and proceeded to try to, literally, bite my head off. Then stood up abruptly and tried to swing me off. Taken quite by surprise, I kinda leaped off said camel (which was very high off the ground by the way) and I landed on the sand, but was I safe? Nope. The camel then decided to roll itself on top of me. Needless to say, I thought I was a goner when I saw the large mass literally landing on me. I somehow managed to roll away, but was shaking with fear. Aaron grabbed me and held me so tight. I finally felt safe. Aaron felt like my knight in shiny (shining lol) armor, and those of you who know me personally know I don’t say stuff like that-haha. I was able to come out of this crazy experience with only a few large scraps and bruises. But, man, I will never forget that experience. 

Feeling safe is so important in a relationship. I loved the feeling that day in the Sahara Desert with my husband. But you know what the best part of the story is? I got back on another camel and still rode for two hours! #GIRLPOWER

Below are a few tips we have learned over the years that help keep our relationship alive and kicking. We are not a perfect or normal (haha) couple by any means, but these tips really help us keep connected/always on some sort of adventure. I hope you guys are having a great week. If you are planning to ride a camel anytime soon, proceed with caution-haha. 

1. Try not to go to bed angry. 

People fight. Relationships are not perfect. We are still learning and will most likely still be learning till we are married for 75 years-haha. We have found through the 6 years together - 3 married - that going to bed angry is no bueno. Just try to forgive, forget and move on. I promise it will make the next morning a thousand times better.

2. Read together instead of watching tv. 

Don’t get me wrong, we love tv. Also, I am a bit of a movie freak (I mean, I know every word to The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly as well as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy)-haha, I am a nerd...I know. However, this year we have discovered the joy that comes from reading with each other. We read everything from cookbooks, to novels, to my little hometown paper. I find this time brings up conversations that wouldn't happen while watching a movie. Plus it’s just super duper soothing to be read too, am I right? Try it out!

3. Take time to have dates. 

One of the most important tips I have learned from friends who are much older and wiser is to "take the time to get out of your apartment/house to do pretty much anything." Have a picnic in the park. Take a drive just to watch the stars. Grab your laptop and popcorn to watch a movie outside (or maybe just in your backyard). Dates don't need to cost a lot of money to be fun. It’s just so essential to have time to reconnect and unwind together. 

4. Surprise each other with the unexpected. 

Aaron and I love surprises almost to a fault. For instance, sometimes we will take a trip and I will have no idea where we are going, Aaron will just tell me what kind of clothes to pack. This makes trips so much more of an adventure, which we both love. I just love the feeling of something unexpectedly brilliant coming my way. I find this keeps things spicy…if you know what I mean. 

5. Congratulate each other on even the small stuff. 

The past few years I really haven't been as good at this as I think I should. As a couple, we are learning how important it really is to sometimes throw a party (with maybe some streamers-haha) for the smallest victories. These little victories can really help pave the way for big ones so they need to be not overlooked. So go ahead and party when you don’t get a parking ticket. Celebrate the small stuff! 

Bonus tip from Aaron:

6. If it makes a good story, you should probably do it. 

There have been so many times when we are trying to choose between two options and we just can't make up our minds. Sometimes, the best thing to do is just to pick the option that will make the best story or possibly even leave the best legacy. I want to be able to sit down in my living room with my grandkids (A loonnngggg way from now) and be able to tell stories for hours on end. For instance, "You'll never believe what happened while riding camels through the Sahara Desert" or "We just tossed all our plans aside and got married in Iceland!". You know what I mean. Be the kind of couple you want to be remembered as for years and years to come. You'll definitely have a fun time in the process. 

+ photos above by out talented friend Chad Davis.