anniversary

A little over two years ago, our dear friend Terry was trying to figure out what to say at our wedding. It was her first time officiating a wedding and to put it simply, she wanted to know why I wanted to marry Brittany. Here’s how I responded on Thanksgiving Day 2022.

Hi Terry, Today especially, it makes sense to be thankful for Brittany on Thanksgiving. I know you’ve seen the photobooks of us smiling and posing for different occasions, but the best part of our relationship is really what happens in between those photos. Brittany is caring, sharp-witted, and full of love, which makes loving her so easy.

Brittany is caring

At times, I’d swear she was an angel. Earlier this year, I was sick for a full two weeks. Most people would have stayed away, or given up on me after a few days, but Brittany kept the tea kettle warm and would check on me in the middle of the night. I’ll never forget the compassion she showed as she poured warm water through my hair in the bathtub, bringing me back to life. This compassion extends to other people as well. A few years ago, we were driving through Chapel Hill and witnessed a terrible car crash, with one of the cars spinning twenty feet down a ravine and into a fence. Brittany instinctively pulled our car into a safe spot and ran down the slope to check on the driver. Another time, and very early in our relationship, Brittany got stuck taking care of both me and my dad at the same time after I’d just gotten my wisdom teeth taken out and my dad was recovering from a significant hip surgery. Brittany juggled both tasks with a smile… way above the call of duty for any caretaker, let alone a new girlfriend at the time. For my dad, an extra blanket in the middle of the night made a world of difference and cemented her status as an angel in the Kelley household. Her empathy and compassion seem to have no end, which makes her both a good medical provider and an easy choice for my lifetime partner.

Brittany is smart

And when she puts her mind to something, nothing can stop her. There was a brief period early in our relationship where Brittany and I were spending so much time together that her grades began to slightly slip. She was taking Calculus 2, an important prerequisite for pursuing a career in the medical field, and wasn’t happy with her first test grade. She looked me in the eyes and said, “I’m going to get an ‘A’ in this class.” Our dates quickly changed from ice cream and Old Chicago pizza to meeting up in Davis Library. But the results came quickly too; I don’t think she ever got anything less than ‘A’ throughout the rest of her time in school, including her master’s degree at ECU. Brittany’s not one to brag, but she scored in the top 1% of all PA school students on the final board exam. Plus, she’s not just school smart. She’s also good at answering my common questions like “what should we make for dinner?”, “what day was that event again?”, or “do you know where I left my shoes?”

Brittany has a kind and tender heart, and I’m so thankful she has chosen to share it with me

The sweetness and sincerity of her love is undeniable. If she has an early morning, she’ll leave a handwritten note on the counter to wish me a good day. When I get home in the afternoon, she’ll be waiting for me at the door with a warm embrace or a round of applause (silly but my favorite). Her favorite way to wake up in the morning is with a kiss on her forehead and a big smile on her face. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know how to walk beside me without holding my hand. She’s the most thoughtful planner and gift-giver for birthdays and holidays. These may seem like little things, but they mean a lot and provide a snapshot of why I can’t wait to marry Brittany.

This list could just have easily been a hundred pages long but Brittany’s compassion, intelligence, and kind heart are just three of the reasons why I love her. I can confidently look forward to our wedding without any nerves and a lifetime of happiness to follow.

As we’re celebrating our two-year anniversary today, I’m happy to report back that things are better than ever. Just take a look at the cover photo here– we’re so in sync that we even got each other the same anniversary card.

Want more? Check out my recap from our first anniversary

It gets better every day. Over the past year, we’ve settled into our new home, went on an amazing honeymoon in Mexico, and cherished the ups and downs of every day life. And part of that happiness is due to the great advice we received from friends and family along the way, including:

My sister, who evidently watches a lot of TV

“I’ve learned a lot about marriage from watching Family Feud.

Support your team – even if the answer is not the best, respond with “good answer,
good answer” Same goes in marriage, support one another’s dreams and goals and be
each other’s biggest cheerleader

When asked after a lighting round, always say “we wanna play, Steve!” – I hope in your
marriage you’ll always be willing to play, take a risk and go all in. And finally,

Win or lose, celebrate and act like you just won the prize – This one is
pretty self explanatory, but have fun and hold each other tight during the good and hard
times that life may bring you.”

Erin

Carol, who knows exactly how to lighten the mood

“I know I’m supposed to offer up relationship advice, but I’m single with a cat, so what do I know?! So here’s a Mad Lib from the wedding party instead:

What’s some advice that’s worth its weight in STEEL? First, let’s be real. FLOOFY disagreements are inevitable and can be as petty as fighting over whether to order curried CHEESECAKE or CHOCOLATE MOLTEN CAKE. Just remember that a(n) SPICY wife is a(n) HAIRY life. And when you act like a KERFLUFFLE, just apologize! Get in the habit of saying BYE BUDDY, HOPE YOU FIND YOUR DAD! And never go to bed BOTHERED.

Remember to fan the DOGS of romance. Draw up a luxurious SMIRNOFF ICE bath and light some UN-SCOOPED KITTY LITTER scented candles for your beloved. But in all seriousness, the most important advice I can offer is to choose to love each other every day, even the hard ones, and always have fun.”
Caroline

Becca, who must’ve had a bad experience in the past…

“Get the absolute best Christmas tree stand you can. It’ll save your marriage.”
Becca

Garrett, my big brother from another mother

“Savor all the time you can and make mental images. But also make space for yourselves and remember it’s okay to be a little selfish with your time and preferences.
Garrett