Hurricane
Our marriage began in the midst of external challenges. I believe these trials are what brought us closer in a short amount of time. Year One was like 3-5 years concentrated into 365 days.
A month into matrimony, my paternal grandmother passed away. My wife and I found ourselves driving 18 hours to Gary, Indiana to attend her funeral and meet my father's side of the family for the first time. I hadn't spoken to my parents since the summer -- when I got their RSVP about not coming to the wedding. It was just an awkward time all around, yet my focus was to say goodbye to my grandmother and make my wife comfortable.
My dad's family loved her (I knew they would) and it almost made up for none of them being able to attend the wedding. My parents were cordial with the focus being on grandma moreso than any hard feelings. And I had hard feelings. The way my wife handled herself around tons of strangers made me proud.
On the drive back, we stopped through Birmingham to see my maternal grandmother and that side of the family. I have terrific grandmothers. My maternal grandmother is the epitome of stress management and always good for a hearty laugh. My wife and I stayed for a spell and absorbed that good energy before hitting the road. While I grew up with my parents bickering on family road trips, my wife and I always had a good time on the highway. This excursion, birthed out of sadness, was good for us.
I landed a consulting job with a large oil company and the financial pressure eased up a bit. The summer was fantastic as my oldest son lived with us and we adjusted to our blended family of stepparents and stepsiblings.
On Tuesdays we would go swimming at the YMCA when I got off work. on the weekends my wife and kids would come watch me slug it out at my company softball games. I never thought I would see the day where I would come home and hear the chaotic screams of "Daddy!" and "Baby!" it was a surreal experience that I enjoyed.
our first year had some emotional and fiscal hurdles in which we got our jump on. We were unstoppable as we got ready to celebrate our first anniversary.
Then came Hurricane Ike.
Suddenly the pretty picture we were painting was interrupted with fallen trees, wrecked cars and four weeks without power. With limited resources and smoldering temperatures, my wife and I made it through and celebrated our anniversary by involuntary candlelight 
Whether proverbial or literal, I knew I had someone who would go through the storms with me.
