going way, way back: my senior prom to 14 years later

Today, I'm going way, way back, to my high school banquet 14+ years ago. :) {I still can't believe it was that long ago!} We didn't dance at our Christian school {which makes SO much sense to me now that I'm old! ha!}, but we did have a banquet.

a big thank you to my friend Lonna for posting this oldie on Facebook! :D

How many people can say they went to their high school prom with the father of their children? :)

Back in 2000, he was 20, in college and drove a fancy silver new sports car, and I was a senior, 17, and excited about the prospect of college and life on my own. We had been friends for a few years at that point, and we both knew when we first started going out my senior year that we were looking for a future spouse. And of course, you know the story- a little over two years after this prom, I became his. ;)

Standing there at my prom that day, I wouldn't have guessed that in 14 years we'd have 5 kids, a very old house, 13 wildly reproducing molly fish, and a crazy fun life together.

This weekend we're celebrating our 12th {!} wedding anniversary, and I have to tell you: I'm continually amazed at the fact that I'm married to my high school sweetheart. :)

12 years later, it's still exciting. :) The Lord has been so kind to us!!

Happy {early} anniversary, baby! I love you like crazy.

back from vacation {where we went and pics} + the newest member of our family

We're probably weird,
but we loved being together every minute for so many days.
It's like that at home too though, LOL.

We're back from our 10th anniversary trip!! We went to Kauai for a week, and to say it was gorgeous is probably an understatement. I so wish I could have taken you with me! If you love warm weather, the mountains, and the beach with a breeze, you would love this place! :) It was beautiful.

But even more than that, I can't tell you how good it was to take a real break from everything. I realized right before we left that I was feeling really weary, and really needed to take a Sabbath from all the work, the noise, and all the little jobs I have. It was such a wonderful thing to get away for a week, and just focus on Jesus and my husband. I felt like I could take a deep breath and slow down while I was there, and I came back feeling more energized to start again! :D

It was awesome for my heart, and marriage too I think, and only possible because the Lord blessed us with such awesome parents who all took turns watching our kiddos while we were gone! They were the best! What a gift it was.

This view from our balcony definitely helped set the relaxed tone for the week:  ;)

our first sunrise in Kauai

And the long walks helped too:

enjoying a gorgeous trail with my love....we walked this far apart most of the time. {lol...just kidding! ;) }

Thanks to my weird pregnancy body clock, we got to see the sunrise every day! :D

how can people see this and not worship the Lord? I don't understand...He is SO amazing. It was such a precious time!

And then the weirdest thing happened while we were there...I couldn't even form a thought for the whole week regarding what needed to be done when we got back home. I tried to think about it and use the extra time I had to plan several times, and my brain would immediately shut down. Instead, I slept and ate good food {and a lot of it! I think the baby gained a whole pound last week- his kicks are crazy strong this week!!}. I didn't exercise other than hiking, I didn't write anywhere but in my journal, and I didn't make a single to-do list. It was like recovery mode for my body and mind. :D

I have lots of pictures and stories to share with you guys {we took at least 1000 pictures....the crazy tourists that we are}. :D, but I couldn't wait to tell you about this fun little thing who joined our family yesterday:

Her name is Rella, short for Cinderella. :D She's the first pet the kids have had in about 5 years, and they are so excited. She's itty bitty and we've been having lots of fun with her so far. :D We've never had a cat before, so it's even more thrilling for them. It will be neat to seem them bond with this little kitty before the baby comes. :)

I think it was definitely an exciting end to the last week for them staying with the grandparents. :D I'm just so thankful we had a long weekend to readjust before jumping back into life! :)

Today we all go back to school, work, and teaching fitness classes. My oldest daughter Isabella {#3} is also graduating from kindergarten today {sniffle, sniffle}, and Rob's little brother is getting married this weekend, so we have a full week to come back to for sure! :D

Ever since we got back from Hawaii, we have been trying to readjust our bodies again to Texas time. The two flight red-eye we took probably didn't help with the jet lag- but even with that, I have to say I'm still a huge fan of sleeping your way through 8 hours of flying! :) That was the first time we'd done that, and it made the trip home really fly by. {heheh.} I think I'm finally back on Texas time- I woke up at 5 this morning {midnight in HI}!

I missed you guys though! Did anything happen while I was gone?

How was your week?? Did you do anything special for Memorial Day?
We slept really late and worked on pre-baby projects. :D

Mamas, is this week the end of school for your kiddos too?
Summer starts tomorrow for us!

Have you ever taken a red-eye flight? What did you think? Love them or hate them? {It would be awful if you couldn't sleep!}

a decade of happiness

10 years. 

I still can't believe it.

I've been married for a decade.

Two things come to mind when I read that sentence.

1. I'm officially old.

2. I'm so blessed to be happily married to my husband for so long.

Last Friday was our 10th anniversary, and this man knows how to celebrate an anniversary, I tell you.

Friday morning, he brought me four dozen roses:

and then he started right in on the dishes. :)

It doesn't get better than that! :D

He's an amazing husband. I seriously love this man. We've been married for a decade, and I still get butterflies. :)

Friday was our 10th anniversary {on the 10th!}, and my dad watched the kiddos for us {thanks, dad!!!}, so we headed out for a quick getaway night.  

Something about hitting the double digits of marriage made this weekend very special.

the engagement

Over eleven years ago, on Christmas Day, he asked me to go for a walk out on his parents' property. It was cold and pouring rain, and I think I remember trying to get out of this particular freezing rainy walk, but he managed to convince me. :) 

Bundled up in our coats, under a big rainbow umbrella, he took me out to his parents' pier. It was the very spot where we'd kissed for the first time exactly one year before. 

the pier

My heart started beating like crazy, as he got down on one knee, and told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, and then he asked me to marry him. 

I was crying {I think he was too-it was too dark to see}, and I told him, "yes!" Then we almost ran back inside because by that time we were soaked. ;)

I was all of 18 {barely}, and he had just turned 21. We were so young! {not that we thought it at the time...}

Back in those days, it was hard to even imagine what 10 years later would look like.

I had no idea we'd have four children {8 years old and under}, and a fixer upper historical home in the same city where we'd went to college. 

I knew for sure that like all marriages, ours would have it's hard times, but I didn't know it would also get sweeter over the years.

Last Friday marked 10 years of marriage for us- almost 12 years since that Christmas day on the pier.

At midnight, after a lovely {steak!} dinner and a movie, we walked down to the harbor on the lake where we were staying. 

the harbor

As we strolled along the pier, it was still warm, but a breeze was blowing across the water, so it was more than pleasant. As we held hands and walked along the water, we talked about all the adventures we'd had together in the past decade. It became a fun game of "do you remember that time?"

As we walked past the lighthouse, he asked me, "do you remember that time we walked down a pier like this..."

I laughed, and said, "I think it was just a little different....it was raining...and cold..."

He laughed too, then gently pulled my hand as he stopped and turned to stand in front of me.

"And I don't remember the lighthouse..." I added.

His voice caught just a little as he smiled and said, "do you remember how I was really nervous?" 

My heart started beating like crazy. So much like it did all those years ago.

I nodded as my eyes started to fill with tears.

His did too.

Then he kneeled down on the pier.

His eyes never left mine as his hand reached down into his pocket. "And do you remember how I got down on one knee, and reached in my pocket and pulled out a box..."  

Big fat tears started rolling down my cheeks.

"...and then I asked if you would marry me?"

I smiled as I furiously tried to wipe away the tears but they wouldn't stop. My eyes were a bit blurry, but I could see a shiny ring...

"Will you marry me?" he asked me again, 12 years later.

I couldn't stop crying and laughing as I said yes {again!}, and then he stood and we held each other for the longest time on the dark pier, not even caring that five people randomly decided to walk by at that very moment. 

By that point, we were both laughing and crying. As he put the ring on my finger, I couldn't help but ask him if he was nervous this time around because he thought I'd say no... :)

I love him so much. He knows me so, so well. He loves me so well. I think God designed this man for me. He knew that this man would be the one who would take care of my heart needs on this earth.

We're so blessed to have been given such a wonderful marriage. God has been so kind to us. We love the same things, we enjoy being together every chance we get, and we even like the same foods these days.

He works so hard for our family, and he even helps me with the house and puts the kids to bed at night. He leads our family and teaches our children how to live for Jesus. The word wonderful doesn't do him justice.

I've spent more than 1/3 of my life with him, and I can't wait to spend more.

I love you, baby. Happy anniversary.