Katie: So, Year One is over. What’d you think?
Joe: I thought it was eerily similar to three hundred sixty-five days.
Katie: The whole interview can’t go this way.
Joe: Okay, what do I think about Year One? Oh, my feet stink. Are you typing all this? Please tell me you’re not. You have got to be kidding me. Let me see that. If you’re going to type everything, I’m going to give you some jackass answers.
On a serious note, I thought Year One was challenging, but also helped deepen my faith.
Katie: Are you saying I was a challenge?
Joe: No.
Katie: No?
Joe: Year One of our marriage was challenging. You weren’t challenging.
Katie: Are you just saying that because people are going to read this on the blog? You know we’re going to edit this so people only read what we want.
What’s the best part about being married to me?
Joe: These are the hard questions I was talking about. You should just do this on a video camera.
You make me laugh.
Katie: Really?
Joe: I think you’re freaking hilarious.
Katie: Is that all?
Joe: No. I think it’s great that you really want to be a good wife.
Katie: What’s the worst part [about being married to me]?
Joe: You cry a lot.
Katie: What’s so bad about crying?
Joe: I wasn’t finished answering the first part. I think one of the most challenging things is that we are absolutely, complete opposites in a lot of stuff. Not that that’s bad, but it’s challenging.
Katie: What was the biggest surprise about marriage?
Joe: I would say the challenge. I knew marriage would be challenging, but I didn’t know exactly to what level.
Katie: Anything else?
Joe: And I would say the most surprising thing about you is just how sensitive you are. I really didn’t think you were that sensitive.
Katie: Sensitive like…touchy and emotional.
Joe: [Thoughtfully, perhaps cautiously] Just…very sensitive.
Katie: What do you wish you’d known before you married me?
Joe: How sensitive you were.
Katie: What do you wish I’d known before we got married?
Joe: Shouldn’t you be answering that question? I think you knew everything about me.
Katie: Whaaat?
Joe: I was like an open book. Every page being read twice.
Katie: If you could change anything about me, what would it be?
Joe: [Chuckles.] No comment.
Katie: No fair.
Joe: Why?
Katie: ‘Cause I wanna know the answer.
Joe: Are you gonna answer these questions?
Katie: If you want me to. I was hoping to.
Joe: Am I gonna have to type out your answers?
Katie: I can.
Joe: I guess I would change how sensitive you are in some areas.
Katie: I think it’ll be interesting to answer these questions every year on our anniversary. I bet some of our answers will change. Someday you’ll probably be glad I’m so sensitive.
Joe: And I wish you liked football more. In fact, I wish you were a huge sports fan.
(I laugh at the thought.)
Katie: I’m trying to like football.
If you knew a young man who was getting married tomorrow, what advice would you give him?
Joe: I would tell him to make sure he has a good group of friends to be open and honest about the struggles, challenges, victories and joys of marriage.
Katie: That’s good advice.
Joe: Yeah. Better than run.
Katie: What are some of your favorite memories from our first year of marriage?
Joe: I think of, like, the nights when we’re really tired and laughing over something really stupid. What else? Help jog my memory here.
Katie: Going to get a Christmas tree together.
Joe: Yeah, that was a good one. Carrying it through the store.
Katie: Did we carry it through the store?
Joe: I did.
Oh, and that night when we were laying in bed and you said, “I just didn’t know you would annoy me so much.”
And freezing in the winter and getting in bed [to warm up].
Oh, and taking Spikers down to Dillon Falls when he almost drowned. He kinda looked at me like, “Please save me.”
Katie: If you knew then what you knew now, would you do it over again?
Joe: Mm-hm. Absolutely.
Katie: Good answer.
Joe: Thank you.
Katie: Do you think our first year of marriage will end up being the hardest year?
Joe: No.
Katie: No?!
Joe: [Shakes head] Huh-uh.
Katie: That’s discouraging.
Joe: Why? I think as we go through life, there will be tough seasons. They won’t necessarily have the same challenges. I think there will be different years with different challenges. Because that’s what testing and refining is.
Katie: What have you learned from me? Now don’t talk too fast. I have to write all this down.
Joe: Um…what have I learned from you?
Katie: This shouldn’t be taking so long. You should be spouting things off.
Joe: I’ve learned a lot about myself from you. …Usually I’m the one schooling you, right? I’ve learned how to love better. That’s a good one. Did you teach me how to cook anything?
Katie: What do you think will be the best thing about our second year of marriage?
Joe: I think we’ll have a lot better grasp on how to handle conflict.
Katie: Is there anything you want to add?
Joe: This was a really difficult interview. You grilled me.
Katie: Okay, now do you want to ask me some questions?
Joe: Yeah.
I really enjoyed this. The sensitivity gets worse with the years Joe, but you get a better handle on how to react to it LOL.
We miss you guys and hope to see you soon. Congrats on the first anniversary, I pray God gies you 60 more.
Next time I am going to be in Parkersburg, I will give you a call!
This is great. John and I should interview each other. After 11 years of marriage I might say that this last year since Lila was born has been the toughest of our marriage but also probably the best one too. My answer will change once she’s a teenager
Liz, thanks for reading! Love to all of you.
I smiled as I read this. You two are so cute (sorry Joe, that’s the word that came to mind, perhaps because Katie was writing). Blessings as you move into year 2.
I *love* this!
So as I pray for you in the beginning of your second year, I will pray for you to love football… and hockey… and baseball… and soccer… and basketball.. and martial arts… and and and….
This, to me, was the bestest postests you’ve written. SO honest and fun. I love that I am getting to know Joe a bit from the few times I’ve met him and am totally seeing his personality in these.
As always, LOVE YOU Katie and your openness with the blogging world.
Much love!!! T