Five years and counting! Wahoo!

I've been thinking about this...I have been trying to figure out the math for the past week. If I am still 21 years old, last week I just had Marshall, and Mitch and I got married a month ago...for the life of me I can't figure out how my driver's license says that I should actually be 26, and Marshall is turning three this August and Mitch and I have been married for FIVE YEARS!
It is so cliche to say, but it seems like only yesterday Mitch and I got married. Time seems to have sped up. It's passing so quickly that I can't wrap my mind around it. The past five years of our lives together have been the most incredible adventure of my life. If my present self was somehow transported to my past self and could speak with her what would I say? What truth could I say without scaring myself out of marriage? How could I tell myself that through the up and downs I would somehow find the greatest joy I never knew was possible? What would my past self thought of my present self? If by magic I met my past self I would find her tan, blond and 30 (okay maybe 40) pounds lighter roaming the campus of BYU-Idaho. I'd take her in a loving embrace. I'd sit her down on a bench in the privacy of a tall tree. Looking into her hopeful eyes, clearly remembering the love and excitement I felt the first few months I had met Mitch. Knowing very well that it hadn't take me long to fall in love with Mitch and want to start a life with him. I think, I think I would, I'd tell her this:
Love Mitch without fear. You will cry tears of joy, sadness, pure love and even anguish. There will be laughter caused by real happiness, mischief, adoring love, and awkward embarrassment. You will feel the triumph of success and the shame of failure. You will do everything you say, "I will never do..." the sooner you get over it, the better off you will be. You have found a friend that will walk hand in hand with you and even pull you to the edge. He'll carry you places you never imagined you'd go, and you'll find yourself places you didn't want to be, and you'll be surprised that you love him more for it. By your love you'll create a life and share the encompassing challenge that parenthood brings. He will find you in your darkest corner and stand firm beside you until you'll gather the strength to stand again. You will love motherhood. Not at first, it will take you time to adjust. You will find yourself at random times during the day looking into the eyes of your child and truly believing that your purpose on earth was to bring that life into this world. You will a develop a deep resounding gratitude for Mitch as you determine the best way to raise your family together. You'll acquaint yourself with despair, pride, and envy. You won't call them friend. You will find yourself comfortably in the companionship of love, joy, and persistence. You will believe that you share a mutual dependence for each other. You'll learn the long and hard way that all things have a way of working themselves out. I won't bother telling her to not worry because, I know it's what you do best. You'll dance a dance of victory. You will find your present self much like your past self. Looking forward to a bright future with the ones you love, planning only for the best that life has to offer, and unequivocally in love with Mitch.
Before I leave my past self, I'd hug her once more and warn her about your obvious affair with fast food, and try to convince her that you'll eventually like being a brunette.
Cheers to five years! May there be many many many more adventures and experiences so we can learn to love each other more than I presently know possible!