14 years!!!!

Marriage is the greatest thing that I have ever embarked on.  We have had many wonderful times over the years.   

We have moved to our first home (and soon our 2nd), we have had two wonderful healthy boys, we have witnessed many friends getting married and having kids, developed relationships that are priceless. 

 We have also had our lows: 3 miscarriages, Dan in ICU and recovery from bacterial meningitis, and many more...............

But it all started at a little party in Nacogdoches, TX.  (Ax Em')

I meet this cute boy June 3,1997. 

He was playing volleyball (in green guess shorts). We then started small talk, had a few dates. It was not long before I knew this boy was something special. 


I will be the first to say that he is not the guy that I had in my head that I would fall in love with. 
In High School:
I liked: band, theater, church camps, church choir, mission trips, loved 'alternative music ,' and hung out at Deep Ellem on the weekends....He liked: soccer, sports, hunting, fishing, soccer, sports, hunting and fishing...Yet, when we met as 'almost adults' we clicked. We have always had a natural chemistry.  If fact after our first date I wrote in my journal, "I found the man I want to marry....not sure I am ready for this...." (6/03/1997)

like the acid washed jeans?

1990's selfie....

We still click. BUT----Now 14 years of marriage and 17 years together we have to work harder at clicking. I am not saying that I don't like him as much as I did when we first started dating, in fact, I love him more. 

But, I can easily not pay as much attention to him. I find myself focusing on our kids, my friends, the TV, school, work, my phone....and less time gazing in his eyes. This is the man that can calm me down faster than any other person. He can also drive me crazy faster than another person in the world. 

Why? Because he is my husband. He is always with me. He always has his feet firmly planted on the ground, when my head is typical up in the clouds. This works. It keeps us thinking of the future and dreaming, while reality is still a  part of the vision.
I am so grateful that we keep working to click. 

Mr. I love you so! Happy 14th anniversary!!

P.S. Despite the pictures below...we were not 12 years old when we said YES!