Where has the time gone?

Nine years ago today I linked arms with the man of my dreams

and he ushered me (while telling jokes to "lighten the mood") down the aisle into the waiting arms of the man of my dreams.

I married him because for 4 1/2 years, every time I'd walked into a room and found him, my heart had fluttered.  I married him because he made me laugh like no one else ever had.  I married him because my hand fit perfectly into his.  I married him because he taught me calculus with the patience of a saint.  I married him because he appreciated my quirks.  I married him because he loved hockey almost as much as I did.  I married him because he was my best friend.  I married him because he loved Jesus.  I married him because we shared our dreams.  I married him because I loved him.

I'm still married to him, 9 years later, not because life has been perfect, but because through it all, he has never left my side.  He has never failed to help me to my feet when I've fallen.  He has never failed to share a joke when my smile's faded.  He has never stopped being steadfast when I've wavered.  He has never stopped holding on for dear life when we've been through a storm.  I'm still married to him, 9 years later, because he's never stopped being exactly who he is: an imperfect man who loves me completely.  I'm still married to him because I love him desperately.  I'm still married to him because, 9 years later, 13 1/2 years later, every time I walk into a room and find him, my heart flutters.

And so, in honor of the man with whom I share my life, a pictorial trip down memory lane is in order.  I remember that day like it was yesterday (which, of course, means that I remember tidbits of what happened, but much of what I remember is only because it was captured on film)!

You need to know that as of 4pm the afternoon before my wedding, my dress did not fit and I was not a happy camper!

It all worked out, though, and I walked down the aisle wearing the stunning dress I'd chosen months in advance!  

I have some silly friends.  One of them, a lifelong "bestie," got married just a few months prior to me, and on her wedding day we chased down the ice cream man for ice cream sandwiches!  The ice cream man didn't make a stop at the church on my wedding day, but we DID have ice cream sandwiches.

My sister is a goof.  She suggested I looked perfect in this outfit:

which, while cute, was not my idea of a perfect wedding gown!

I thought this was a better "costume" for the day.  My sister, ever the clown, made sure to joke about it.  Total sister moment here, but one of my two favorite pictures of the two of us on that day.  (I won't share the other, for her sake.)

If you know me well (and perhaps even if you don't), you won't be surprised to find that one of my very favorite wedding day memories is of pausing to read a book with my sweet little flower girl.  How could I say no?  Her eyes are HUGE and she's gorgeous!  And seriously?  "Would you please read this to me?"  I couldn't refuse!

That very same sweet flower girl, as the music began to play and the wedding party began to move, tugged on my sister's hand and whispered, "I have to go potty!" I can still hear whispered, "Walk slowly!" amongst the wedding party!

I do not know how the photographer managed to capture this EXACT moment, but this is the very moment I realized that my groom had shaved his goatee just for me!  He'd had one the night before at the rehearsal, and that afternoon it was gone!  (I told you he loved me!  It's back now...since about 3 days after the wedding...and now he looks funny without it.)

And so, we had our little ceremony, everything going perfectly other than the ring bearer spinning in circles on his little stool throughout the entire wedding.  (My ring even arrived on time, which is a whole different story.)

And after concluding the ceremony, my daddy pronounced us husband and wife and sent us up the aisle and into life together!

I love you, I love you, I love you!  I can not wait to navigate the next 9 years...19 years...59 years...with you!  Life's been full of adventure, and while I certainly hope the ride levels off a bit, there is no one with whom I would rather live this life than you!  Thank you for standing by me through it all, no matter what.

I love you, Buddy!  Happy anniversary!

EVERY mom should have a Boba...so I'll give one away!

Tomorrow is our 9th wedding anniversary, and Bugsy has an eye doctor appointment midday at the children's hospital an hour away.  Sounds like a super fun way to spend an anniversary, right?  We debated what to do: should I take him myself (I hate going myself), should we both go, should we find a sitter for Stinky and Little Lou...what should we do?  We decided, after much thought, that we'll (crazily) take all 3 kids to the appointment, and we'll go to the children's museum nearby before (and probably after) the appointment!  THAT sounds like a much more fun way to spend our anniversary!

The trouble, though, is that Stinky is still sporting that bright fading red cast on his leg.  The boy loves to run and play now, but he tires easily.  A couple hours at the museum will be way too much for his little body this week, but the stroller is just a hassle at the museum!

I am SO very glad that Stinky is still as in love with our Organic Boba Carrier as I am!

Last fall I told you about our Boba exerience.  We'd just had our Boba a couple weeks then, but we were in love already!  We've been using it for 9 months now.  We still use it almost daily.  The Boba Organic is my very favorite baby item ever, hands down.  

We use it at the house while I make dinner (and keep him off the counters--literally):

We use it while we're hiking in the evening and Stinky can't possibly handle the hike we're taking:

(Notice a theme here?  Stinky almost always falls asleep in the Boba! He must be comfy!)

We use it for Bugsy on long walks when He and Stinky both need rides!

(He is right at the upper weight limit, but this particular walk was about 3/4 of a mile and we were just fine.)

We use and abuse our Boba!  And we ALL love it!  So, I figured why keep all the Organic Boba love to myself, right?  I mean, you'd love to have a Boba too, wouldn't you?  That's what I thought!

Boba has graciously agreed to give one of my super lucky readers an Organic Boba of their very own!  You are going to LOVE the carrier!  (I'd win it myself if I could!)

Thank you, Boba, for being amazing!

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~ Thirteen Years Later ~

Thirteen years ago today he pulled me into the living room (I think that's what you call the one that you don't ever actually use, right?  And the one that gets used is the family room?) at his parents' house.  He sat me down in the rocking chair, looked me in the eye, took my hands in his (cold) ones, and said these words which I will never ever forget: "Will you be my girl?"

It'd been a long time coming.  There were some obstacles in the way.  We'd been friends for about a year.  We'd talked on the phone daily-or more-for months.  We'd spent hours and hours together at church events, family events, each others' houses.  We'd been on a real date, even!  

I said, "Sure."

True story.

I probably giggled a little.  I remember he kissed me.  Then we went back to the family room (living room?) and watched a movie with his parents.  And then I went home.  End of story.

Well, not really.

Not long later we both had to decide on colleges.  We chose the same school.  For two years we took nearly every class together, and those we didn't (ummm...calculus, in particular) he tutored me through in the evenings.  I figured if he could love me during 4 hours of crying calculus every evening, he could probably love me through everything.

Two years later, he transferred to another college 800 miles away.  We dealt with that.  I figured if he could love me from 800 miles away, he could probably love me through anything.

People, it's been 13 years.  Thirteen!  And we've been through...well, just about everything.  It feels like it, anyway.  Some days, it feels more like it than others, that's for sure.  We've experienced both life and death.  Sickness and health.  Richer and poorer.  Hot and cold.  We've been there.  

And I'm pretty sure he still loves me.

I like that about him.

Thanks for a (mostly) great 13 years!  Here's to another 13...and another...and another...and another after that.  I love you.  Forever!

I can't wait to see what giant plans God has coming for us!