Amy Sherwin + Joseph MacDonald = Amy MacDonald

Okay so I guess we should back up a bit before we start talking about
my new last name.How did this all of this even happen? Seriously. 
I am actually asking you. I still can't seem to wrap my mind around it. Perhaps we should go back to the very beginning...

The year was 2008 (that's right, I said VERY beginning). A friend from school invited me over to play games. I had just arrived at my friend's house, we'll call him Trevor Thomas, and in the corner of Trevor's living room, I see a boy rocking back and forth on a chair. Very quiet and very suspicious of me, he stares. He says, "Hello" as he tries to figure me out. We had a great time playing games that night and getting to know each other. I wondered,

"Who is this boy?"

Oh...him? 
That's just your future husband said no one ever. 
Like ever, no one told. Not even once. If only I knew then what I know now ;) 

That night led to a friendship. 

A great one. 

A friendship built

upon becoming

 "Facebook official", texting, phone calls, 

ysa parties, late night raNdoMness, garage saleing, trying to 

get into the finer things club 

{fail}, long talks and frequent bank stops on 

Joe's part. Three years

and one big hiccup (my bad)

 later

...........

We.finally.went.on.our.first.date. 

Joseph, 

A.K.A.

Joe Joe Babe, Joe Joe Bean, Joe Gee, Honey B, Joe Gee Baby

{I'm awaiting the day he puts an end to my madness}, 

moved up to Edmonton last summer.

I started to go up to Edmonton to visit him 
and the other love of my life, Shawni. 
The more I went, the more I loved Joe.  Edmonton. 
The more I loved Edmonton. 

I was in Edmonton for September's 

WOW week and that's where our real 

story began. I was at the dance trying to find Shawni and Kelsey. I didn't want to go outside, alone to look for them {I am a baby like that}, so I grabbed Joe and said,  "COME WITH ME PLEASE".  Pretty sure he was trying to put the moves on someone else that night,

 but like all good friends, he obliged. We went outside and instead of finding the girls, we talked for over 3 hours

 about our lives. Out of nowhere the northern lights

decided to make an appearance. 

Me: "Oh wow, the sky looks really pretty". 

Joe gasps: "It's the Northern Lights!!!"

Me: "Yah, that's what I meant". 

As we sat and watched, something changed. 

Friends turned into more and old memories 

turned into new feelings. 

Our long awaited first date happened the next day. A few months later, after prayerful consideration, and taking my decision to the temple... 
I knew I was supposed to move to Edmonton. I packed up my life, left everything behind, and started over. 

Joseph and I started officially dating a week after I moved. 
And a few months later we said those three words that changed everything.

There is something 

different about 

him. 

There is something 

different about 

us. 

I don't know how to put it into words so bear with me as I try... 

We are two people from very opposite worlds. Our life experiences don't share similarities, and neither do our personalities most of the time. Our courtship was hard, but we both shared the same desire to make this work. 
We came to find the things that we did/do have in common, are the only ones that really matter. We have the essential ingredients for a good and loving marriage. I am 
not the expert ;) 

but there's someone else who is: 

"You are single. You are hoping to catch that perfect man. 

I have yet to see one who is perfect. Aim high, but do not aim so high that you totally miss the target. What really matters is that he will love you, that he will respect you, that he will honor you, that he will be absolutely true to you, that he 

will give you freedom of expression and let you fly in the development of your own talents. He is not going to be perfect, but if he is kind and thoughtful, if he knows how to work and earn a living, if he is honest and full of faith, the chances are that you will not go wrong, that you will be immensely happy".

- Gordon B. Hinckley.

We loved each other from the start. I say this literally. 

After we shared

 our love for one another and 

confessed how we have 

always felt, we 

knew we couldn't live 

without each 

other.   

 How grateful I am for my Joseph. 

How grateful I am for my
life experiences 

that have allowed me to see and appreciate all of his good. 

 How grateful I am for the happiness 
he brings me.

 How grateful I am for his warm and welcoming family. 

how grateful I am for Heavenly Father 

bringing us together.  

And How grateful I am for the life 
ahead of us. 

I love you Joseph, 
thanks for being mine.