Best Moments

Hubby and I will be celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary in less than 2 weeks. Life gets hectic and crazy, and around your special days you start to think about all that you have experienced and shared together. So I thought I would share some of our very best moments in our years together.

Our wedding was a blur, as I am sure most would agree. Our honeymoon however, was like a dream! We traveled to St. Thomas and proceeded to spend several days in swim wear, lounging the beach with umbrella drinks and avoiding iguanas at all costs. I took naps in a hammock on the beach, while my sweetie snorkeled. We shopped, we ate way too much, but my most favorite memory is how much we just enjoyed each others company, completely relaxed. No decisions to be made, no jobs or families to think about. We just laid in our lounge chairs and soaked up the sun and loved being near one another. It was perfect, exactly how a honeymoon should be.

When we returned, we came back to our newly built, apartment. Both of us had only lived at home with our parents (we married at 21) and although we didn't have much to fill up our new pad, we didn't care. When I think back, we had a full sized bed, a 13 inch tv, our clothes and wedding presents. That is it. We had the best time just lying on our living room floor eating chicken because that is all I knew how to cook at the time and talking for hours. We shopped often and picked out pieces that we dreamed of filling our new place with and it was such an exciting experience to feel like a real adult. We had our own place! It was amazing!

Hubby and I both had great jobs and while our apartment was brand new and in a new trendy part of town, we knew our next move was to our first house. I searched with my Mom for fun and when I felt like I found a great deal, I set it up so Hubby could walk through it with me. It was a 3 bedroom ranch with all hardwood floors and an unfinished basement. An older couple had built the house together and shortly after, the husband passed. It was an older house at the time, but it felt barely lived in. We both saw the potential and decided to put an offer in. Next thing I know, we are moving our stuff (I say this lightly, because I think we only added a couch and a huge tv to our list to this point.) into our very own house. We had family over for a painting and pizza party and spent all of our time making it our own. I loved that house.

Something about owning your own home makes you feel like you need something. We weren't quite ready for babies, just yet, but a puppy? Yes! One day, I came home with a 8 week old Brindle Boxer puppy. He was adorable and my very first baby boy. We named him Pele'. He was a perfect fit.

This house is also where we conceived our first two boys. We never had the chance to bring Judah home, but one of my best memories, is bringing my itty bitty Izzy home. Born at 32 weeks, 8 weeks early, we were able to bring him home at the 35 week mark. I was scared to death and didn't know how to care for a preemie. I remember walking in with our little carrier sitting him in the living room and Hubby and I staring at each other like, "What do we do now?" Don't worry, it only took us a few minutes to figure it out. Soon enough the house was overflowing with baby stuff. My favorite picture of all time is when Izzy was probably 10 lbs (around 3 months) and sitting in the front yard in the grass. He looked so tiny and now when I drive by that house I just picture my little baby feeling the sunshine and grass for the first time at that house.

Remodeling... it was a tough job, but after months of hard work, Hubby and my Dad finished off the basement into an amazing area. We had a room for storage and laundry, a 4th bedroom and bathroom and a large entertainment room. It was so fun to have friends over to hang out and we really enjoyed that space.

Before you know it, we've been married 7 years and our little Izzy is now 18 months. Grammy came to visit to stay with Izzy while Hubby whisks me back to St. Thomas for a second honeymoon. It was just as glorious as the first, but we were even more in love. We visited St. John, snorkeled a underwater trail, shopped til we dropped, enjoyed boat rides, kayak trips, hiking, delicious food and each others company. It was wonderful.

A few moves and years of pre-med schooling later, we find out we are pregnant with our third little boy. I remember being hugely pregnant and potty training Izzy who was 2 at the time, sitting in a chair in the driveway watching him ride his tricycle and snuggling extra during the day since Mommy had no energy to do anything else.

Last year we took our first family of 4 vacation that wasn't to visit family. It was all about the kids and we did so many things. In St. Louis, we visited the children's museum, the arch, did some shopping and spent some time downtown. Then we finished up our road trip in Chicago where we hit everything you can imagine. It is our favorite and I could totally see us living there some day. I love those memories. Two little guys with no pressure, time line and only focused on fun. I will never forget the four of us in the giant Ferris Wheel overlooking downtown Chicago. I didn't want it to end!

We have made so many great memories since Asher was born. Family vacations, Friday family movie nights, sports outings, nights with friends, but my most favorite are the moments he doesn't know I see. Catching him go in after the kids are asleep to give them one last kiss. Reading them stories or teaching them something only a Daddy can teach.

I love picturing Hubby and Izzy holding hands as we walked him to his first day of Preschool. Then Kindergarten and now First Grade. OH it is going way too fast! What better highlight in marriage, than watching the babies you made together grow? Um...nothing.


Over the years he has given me so many things I didn't deserve, trips and hugely expensive presents that he had saved for months for. Fancy steak dinners at Mortons or surprise overnights at our wedding night hotel, and of course the 2nd trip to St. Thomas. I don't think there has been a single anniversary that he didn't completely blow me away. Oh I forgot to mention the one with a tiny blue box and white ribbon with TIFFANY DIAMOND EARRINGS! Oh yeah...he is that amazing. Even more than all of that, the best gift he has ever given to me is his faithfulness and love. We have been through a lot. A. L. O. T. over our 11 year marriage. I love that I still get love notes left for me in the bathroom randomly and thoughtful gifts of things he heard me mention months before (he does listen!) One of my most treasured gifts, a love note he wrote to me and framed. Or maybe it is the photo book he made for me with all three of my boys inside and sweet sayings fill the page. Or maybe it is the large photo canvas he gave to me of my pregnant belly with my Asher. Then there was the NYC trip, (a trip we have discussed for years) that he planned as a surprise with our amazing friends and handmade a card with clues as our Mothers Day gift.

Hubs is an excellent at fulfilling my love of surprises, gifts and affirmation. God truly knew the kind of man I would need to get through this life and I am ever so grateful that he created him just for me.

Eleven years, it's been a flash in one sense and in another I feel like we have been joined for a lifetime. Hubby, I love you with all of my heart and I am thankful for each and every day I have spent with you by my side. Happy Anniversary!

Love.

This past Thursday was my 10th wedding anniversary!!! Not to toot our horn, but in today's world, that is a big deal! I heard on the radio last week, that the average American marriage ends prior to 7 years. That is unbelievable to me. Marriage is hard, no doubt, but it is so rewarding and I can't imagine not working hard to make it work.

I thought I would share a quick version of our love story.

Hubby and I met at his parents church, when we were both in High School. (Yes, he is a PK and fit the rebellious stereotypes. :) My Dad was driving by the church one day and said he felt like there was a reason we needed to go there. Years later, we realized that reason was my sweet Hubby. When we first started attending, Hubby had a long-time girlfriend. I was not your normal teenage girl, and had no desire for a boyfriend. I had been on several dates, but nothing ever clicked. My thought was, if you don't see the possibility of marriage--don't waste your time dating. The church was very small and made it impossible to avoid Hubby since the youth group was made up of about 5 of us. The first couple of years we just ignored each other. He thought I was stuck-up (I was) and I thought he was sloppy. (He dressed in that whole grunge/skater style) His Mother loved me and was constantly hinting that he should take me out. At some point, his relationship ended and his Mom really stepped up her match making game. A friend in youth was having a birthday and she said he should take me to the party at a local restaurant. We both agreed awkwardly, but ended up completely enjoying each other's company. Things moved quickly between us and after what seemed like only a month, people were talking marriage. A little scary to the girl who had never had a boyfriend, and A LOT scary to the boy who is now in college and still figuring out his life path.
Here is where I am going to save you a lot of time...
He broke up with me a total of three times. 3. Each time was a ridiculous excuse bundled with, "I love you so much, but this just isn't a good time." Months later, I would get a call declaring his love and how much he missed me, we would date a little while and then people would start talking marriage again and he would split. Whatever. I was determined not to be like all of my babbling, sappy girlfriends (love ya girls!) who let a little break up get them down. When we were together, we were together, when we weren't, I pretended he didn't exist. :) Of course this drove him crazy and eventually he couldn't stand it anymore.
A girl in our youth group got married and we both went to the wedding. I had a small part in the wedding, and I wore a gorgeous dress. I looked H.O.T. I'm not gonna lie. It was so like a Julia Roberts movie, where the couple loves each other, but it just hadn't worked before and then the girl shows up looking amazing and the guy realizes how dumb he is for wasting time without her. That is exactly what happened, because after that day at the wedding, we have been together ever since! Three months later, we were engaged. September 30, 2000, we were married. We had a magical honeymoon in St. Thomas, it was perfect.

Me+Hammock+Nap+St. Thomas= Perfection
(This should be my every day.)




10 years, 3 boys and half way through Medical school, we are as happy as ever.
We got married at 21, and I remember everyone telling us that getting married at young was a mistake. I am so happy to have proved them wrong. I can't imagine my life without my love and I don't regret a moment. We have been through so much in 10 years, it really feels like we have been married even longer than that. Sickness, difficult pregnancies, death, heartache, layoffs, surgeries...but then there's the sweet babies, laughter, romantic gestures, loves notes, surprises, vacations, a billion family memories, the hugs, the kisses, and the dreams of our future together. It's been ten years, and I know without a doubt he loves me unconditionally and no matter what we face he will be right by my side. I love him.

I am sure you are thinking, what about the anniversary gifts? Well, I will tell you that my hubby is great when it comes to gifts, so I have to really think about his gift in advance because he always out does my gifts. I bought him a new wedding band. His had become to large and pretty banged up. He loved his new band and has been showing it off to everyone. It made my heart glad to see him so happy. He loves to surprise me, and he did just that again this year. First he handed me a beautiful card and then told me my present was in my purse. (How'd he do that?) I found another card from The Elm's (a local Hotel and Spa) with a gift certificate for a Spa day package!!!!! Mani, pedi, facial, aromatherapy bath and a massage!!! Yes, please!!! He said after my wreck I totally needed it, and he couldn't be more right. I just have to wait for my ribs to heal so that I can enjoy my special relaxing day thanks to my sweet Hubby. This weekend, he arranged for my parents to watch the kids so we could celebrate with dinner and a date. He surprised me again with a new pair of shoes! Did I say how much I love him?

Hubby and I don't have much time together, but I really treasure the time we do have. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have ever imagined that we could survive the things we did, but we have, and are even more in love than when we said "I do."