Celebrating 18 Years...

Eighteen years ago today I knelt at an altar in one of the Sealing rooms of the Salt Lake Temple and married an incredible person!  Today I celebrate this special milestone in my life by looking back at all that we have accomplished, gone through and rejoiced over together!  We have seen trials, heart breaks,  health problems, empty bank accounts, car accidents and a bunch of other hard things but we came out stronger than when we went in.    Together we have also seen miracles, blessings beyond comprehension, prayers answered, lives changed, lives touched, courageous acts, friendship, acts of service, incredible loyalty and lots and lots of love!   Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve such a wonderful husband...whatever it was it must have been really good!  

Last year I made my first ever subway anniversary art.   I have decided to add to it each year.   This year I decided to add the words "loyalty" and "service" because I have seen so much of both in the past years but have noticed it in abundance this past year.   I also added the background color....it is fitting for October and reminds me a little bit of the peachy colors we had at our reception.  I also made my own beehive and added it in.   You can see last years subway art here.

Looking back it is fun to see how we have changed through some of our most special milestones!

Wedding Day.

1st Anniversary.

Brenley's Sealing 2001.

Haley's Sealing 2003.

Camden's Sealing 2007

Spencer's Sealing 2010.

Our Family Today 2012.

To Brad:   Thanks for sticking with me through ALL the hard places and loving me all along the way!   We have been through incredible things...hope we get to go through many more together!  
I love you!!! 
Happy Anniversary!!!  !

Celebrating 17 years.

 

On October 22nd Brad and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary.
I know 17 years isn't as long as 50 or anything but it feels like a good solid number.   Brad and I were excited to go out and do something special to celebrate this milestone.   Brad planned the evening but last minute we decided to make a change of plans.   Originally Brad planned for us to eat at Tepanyaki Japanese Steak House and then head to a place in Provo to go country dancing.    After talking with me about it we decided to hit the movies rather than the dance floor but plan to try dancing on a future date.  

When Brad and I met we were young adults.  Brad was working full time and I was working part time and going to school full time.   Pretty much every week and/or weekend I would head to "The Bay" (a dance club in Salt Lake City that was popular among college students) with friends and go country dancing.   I loved dancing and could do all of the flips and tricks which added to the fun!   Brad on the other hand is not into dancing so much.  :)   He had taken some ballroom lessons in high school but by the time I met him he was past that desire.  So once Brad and I started dating and we got to know one another better I realized dancing was probably not going to be part of our life together...at  least not a big part.   Brad overheard me talking about this issue recently so decided to "make it up to me" by taking me country dancing for our anniversary.   He has scored BIG POINTS thinking up this idea and making this plan even though we decided to change plans last  minute.    After eating our yummy food at Tepanyaki we were so full and glad we weren't going to be dancing.  It might not have been a good combination if you know what I mean.    We went and enjoyed the new "Three Musketeers" movie instead and loved it but most of all enjoyed our time together as a couple.  

We kept things simple this year and bought smaller gifts.   I decided to try my hand at some subway art and created Brad's card.   I am going to have it printed bigger so we can frame it and hang it up in our room.  

I am always amazed when I stop and look back on our marriage and all we have been through.  We have faced some pretty hard trials together and looking back we can see how they have helped us be the couple we are.    Our marriage seems to get better every year and there has been so much joy!   

I am so thankful for joy!

Friday Family Fun: 16th Anniversary

When Brad and I first got married we thought we couldn't love one another more.   There was alot of love back then but I realize today that love only gets better and relationships that are nurtured grow into something more special. Today I look back over the past 16 years and I amazed by what I see.   Brad and I have been through so much together.  We have faced hard times and hard decisions and hard answers together and that has blessed our marriage and friendship.   We have witnessed incredible acts of love and we have truly witnessed miracles.  

I am so excited about where Brad and I are today in our friendship, as a family and in our marriage.    Sixteen years has brought us  the opportunity to be closer and to love more deeply.  I am excited to see what the next 16 years will bring!

Happy Anniversary Brad!

The New Moon Experience.

As you have probably noticed from my widget off to the left...I have been anxiously awaiting the New Moon movie!
For our 15th anniversary Brad surprised me with a 2 day pass to the New Moon Experience!
So I have a date with my favorite guy tonight AND tomorrow night!
I can hardly contain myself!
Are you going to see the movie????

MFEO!

Today 15 years ago Brad and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple.
I truly can't believe it has been 15 years...and then I think of how much we have been through and I see our growth and I realize how far we have come in those short years.
I love where we are now...we laugh at one another and have fun and we seem to have nestled into a family routine of sorts. It is fun and yet comfortable.

I have come to realize in these 15 years that Brad and I balance one another.
He is calm....I am passionate.
He uses logic...I use emotion.
He is a neat freak....I am a little scattered.
Over our marriage I am seeing that I am rubbing off a little on him and he is rubbing off on me. But we are still who we are.

Happy Anniversary Brad!

We were completely and totally...
Made For Each Other!

cheesy I know...I just couldn't help myself.
You can thank "Sleepless in Seattle" for the idea.

LoVe YOU More!!!!!

Joys of October.

Our 1st Anniversary Picture.

My little Haley right after placement.

I have always loved October.
There is something special about it....the leaves change, the air becomes crisp in the morning and I get to pull out my sweaters.
I am reminded of the movie "You've Got Mail" when in an email to Kathleen Kelly, Joe Fox talks about how much he loves fall and how he would send her a bouquet of sharpened pencils.
I can totally relate to that sentiment!

Each year I look forward to pulling our my fall home decor to fill our home with the color of Autumn...the reds, oranges and yellows.
They lift my heart and I feel joy.

It isn't just the time of year but also the events of this month that bring me happiness.
Brad and I will celebrate 15 years of marriage this month and Haley turns 7 on Halloween.
And then there is all the favorite Halloween activities.

I also enjoy baking and cooking in October.
There are certain recipes I enjoy making each fall season....like "cheese soup".
I wondered if you have some favorites....if you do please share your recipes with me either through email or leave them in the comments section.
I enjoy trying new recipes and would love to add to my fall favorites!

Welcome October...I missed you!

For Brad

Has it really been 14 years?? Wasn't it just yesterday that we celebrated our 1st anniversary by you taking care of me after my tonsillectomy? We have been through so many things together! It is nice to look back and see we made it through those hard times. I love the place we are in right now in our relationship..there is so much love and kindness! I married an incredible guy!!! Here are 14 things I love about You!
I LOVE...
the way you look...I actually think you get more handsome all the time!
that you work so hard for our family...you would do anything for us.
that you like me to rub your feet.
that your can fix anything, anytime and anyplace. You are like the Maguyver or fix it's.
the way you give me love pats every time you pass by me. You have no idea what it does for me!
how cute you are with our kids. They know that Daddy loves them!
that you bring home surprises every time you leave on business.
how you like to snuggle your feet next to mine at night.
the way you heat me up when I am freezing. You are my personal heater.
that you work hard in your calling and you enjoy serving.
that you love me for me. You love my curly, brown hair and blue eyes and you don't want me to be anything other than myself.
how you embrace adoption! I watch you serve along side me and it means more than I could ever express with words.
that you take me to the temple.
staying up late and watching movies with you.
the way you honor my role as wife, mother and nurturer.

Thank You for sticking with me through thick, thin, hard time and easy. Thank You for being there when I need to talk and for not judging me. Thank you for loving adoption, Birth Parents, foster care and FSA.
I love sharing all these adventures with you!
Thank You for marrying me!!
Happy Anniversary Brad!!!!
I wonder what the next 14 years will bring?
I LOVE YOU!!! !