Celebrating Ten Years of Marriage: Now & Then

This wasn’t how I thought we’d spend our ten year anniversary. Overseas, somewhere tropical, is what I had  in mind. Guess I should have been more specific, lol. You’re overseas, probably closer to a beach than I am. 

But soon you’ll be home and we will celebrate. I’m thinking we should look through photo albums, laugh at all our funny memories. Maybe slow dance in the kitchen. Promise to spin me? 🙂 

You know what I love? I love knowing that I have ten years of memories with you! You know what else I love? Knowing we’ve only grown closer through all the battles we’ve been through. 

I was to terrified to stay with you when you joined the Army, so I broke up with you…like three times? You always pursued me, literally chased me down, haha. You helped me keep faith in you, in us, in God. You kept telling me that all things were possible with God, even Army life. 🙂

Remember when…
It was my turn to tell you with God all things were possible?

You told me we’d get married after Basic Training, after you had two years or so in the Army, and could support a family, but you couldn’t stand being away from me so you proposed over the phone, and I married you a week after Basic graduation? Our families freaked! Haha. 🙂

First Summer We Dated 2001

You were stationed in Korea. I was still in college saving every penny I earned waitressing at Mark’s Feed Store so I could visit you over Christmas break. We spent Christmas Day cuddled in bed watching movies. Korea was so cold!

We used to wonder what our children would look like? How many we would have? What we would name them?  I wanted 12 kids, you wanted 4, so we settled for 2! lol 🙂  Aren’t our children the most amazing creations ever? 🙂 

You held our son for the first time. You were in Iraq, trying to make it home in time…when you came in the hospital room, you still had sand on your boots. I remember being so happy to see your face.

We made it to our first duty station in Colorado. Our first official time away from home…essentially still newlyweds, with a new baby. We had no clue what we were doing, but we made it, and by the grace of God, so did our son! Remember how we called him our little guinea pig? Haha. 🙂 

We fought all the time? You were always the first to say you were sorry, even if it was my fault. You never could stay mad long…me, well…I’m more stubborn. Sorry. I’m better, right? The best part about fighting was making up. Yeah. Make ups were the best. Wink. 

I cried when Baby #2 was going to be born in Indiana, and not Kentucky like the rest of us? And I seriously considered driving to Kentucky when I went into labor? Haha. 🙂 I used to pray our children had southern accents…I still pray that, lol.

You held me before you left for this last deployment. We were standing in the bathroom, in front of the sink. I was trying to keep it together, hoping you wouldn’t come in seeing me struggling with my emotions, but you did.  I cried. I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to see me crying. I’ll never forget what you did. You reached out and pulled me tight against your chest, and held me. You let me cry, even though you were the one leaving for war.  Remember what you told me? You told me it was going to be okay, and you know what? You were right. You’re coming home soon, and it’s all going to be okay.

I love remembering. All the hugs, fights, kisses, tears, laughs–yeah I love remembering them all. You and I…well, we’ve kind of grown up together. We’ve been by each other’s side for ten years, through it all, conquering one mountain at a time. You really are my best friend. Ten years isn’t enough time with you. I’m glad we have the rest of our lives. 

Ten Years in the Making.

I’ll see you soon sweetheart. Happy Anniversary baby.