A Dozen Years

12 years ago today I married my college sweetheart and if you would've asked me back then what I expected to happen in the next 12 years, there is no way I could begin to form the list of the things we have experienced together. We have had our share of storms and sunny days, but no matter what, we know that we will always have the other to lean on, cry with, laugh with, worry with, pray with, and everything else! So in honor of our 12 years, I will do my best to share our story.

I went to audition at Tarleton State in April of 1995. I played my french horn, sang for them, and played the piano that day. A nice girl named Amberly showed me around the campus. I remember seeing Justin and Bull sitting on the couches outside of the choir room, where everyone usually hangs out between classes in the music building. We didn't meet each other then, but I do remember seeing him. I enrolled in the fall and saw him around the music building, but at that time I was strictly in the band and piano studio, so our paths never crossed. But in January we were both in a production of opera scenes and as fate would have it, I was assigned by my distant cousin & opera director, Dr. Janette Kavanaugh, to sit on Justin's lap in the bar scene of Carmen. The first day I didn't put my weight on his lap for the entire rehearsal because I didn't want to crush him. I was SO sore the next day and I told him I was sorry but I was sitting on his lap during the next rehearsal! Soon after that production there was a musical that I was in with his best friend Bull, so I saw him every now and then at those rehearsals. We started talking and hanging out at the dorms and on valentines day I gave him some sweet-tart hearts. He said then that he owed me some cheddar fries at Montanas, a yummy place to eat in Stephenville.

So on March 1st we had our first date. But wouldn't you know it, it was super crowded and I was starving....not much has changed...so we ate at a local diner called Peacocks. It was just as you would envision a local diner...but it was still good! Afterwards we went back to my dorm and watched "The Jungle Book". After the movie he was a gentleman and asked if he could kiss me. I said yes and the rest is history. We dated from March 1st of 96 to July 17th of 99. He proposed on October 15th of 98, right before the Yamboree, so I had all of my family and friends to share the announcement with. He really made the proposal special, but I will save that for another post.

12 years ago today was a very magical night, mostly due to my dad's vision and hard work towards our wedding. It was spectacular, as was everything my dad did. The church gym was transformed into a beautiful garden scene and it hadn't been transformed into something as beautiful as that until July of last year when my sister had her wedding reception there. I think Dad planted his visions into my mom's dreams, because she said she could have never pulled it off without him! Both weddings were gorgeous and both had the love of my dad put into them. I love thinking back to that special night....thank you Justin for an amazing 12 years! I love you!

Loving Life

Did you ever have a time in your life when you feel incredibly blessed? I am having one of those days today. Nothing specific to make me feel this way today, but yet I have this feeling of gratitude and all I can say is, "Thank you, God, for this wonderful life!". Since we have moved into our home, our family has spent so much time outdoors. We love our backyard and have enjoyed planting flowers and just having fun in it. It has been such a joy to see my kids climbing trees, riding their bikes & tractor, and digging in the dirt. We have had so much fun together as a family. As I type this, Justin and the kids are playing archery on the wii and they are having so much fun trying to out-do the others high score. Tonight we made our 2nd meal in our new kitchen and we had a blast cooking together. It is the simple things in life that you appreciate the most! I can tell that this house is going to bring such joy to our family and I give all the glory to God for blessing us with it! Life is so good!!

Thankful for Stacie

I love reading Stacie's blog...her words fill me with such inspiration, hope, tears and joy. I have prayed for them and I am so thankful for her and her family and how they have touched the lives of so so many, including my own. Here is an excerpt of one of her posts that I find myself reading over and over again.

"I am determined to trust God in this period of the unknown because it's not unknown to Him. I believe with all of my heart that nothing touches this family that has not first been sifted through God's hands. And good or bad, He has allowed it to come our way. And with His guidance, He will carry us through. And I will do my best to bring Him glory regardless of how life goes." Stacie

God Bless her and her sweet boys. Her faith is such an inspiration...

Family Pictures

Well, here it is 2 months since my last post...time just seems to fly by! It is so easy to find yourself consumed with the daily to-do list, and writing on this blog is not at the top of the list for me. Although I enjoy it and I certainly enjoy reading what others have written!!

I was about to call it a night after practicing for Praise Team tomorrow morning, when I decided to post some family pictures that we took today at Portrait Innovations. Mom insisted that we go and have a family picture made since it had been 2 years since we had done one. I am so glad that she booked our appointment! We got some great pictures and we can't wait to hang them in the new house.











Speaking of house, we close this Tuesday! We are so very excited!!! We drove by tonight and the previous owners had a UHAUL there getting all of their parents things out. The owners have passed away and the house now is now an estate for their 3 children. Apparently the 2 sisters and brother are not on the best terms and I find that so sad. They came down at different times to move things out. What a hard time for them...saying goodbye to the home that they lived in, going through their parents things, and then not having the support of each other to lean on and do it with. I find that sad for them. I know that would be so hard for me to do and I couldn't do it without Kimberly and Aaron. Surely at this time they could put their differences aside...I will pray for them tonight.

Well, Justin just went to bed and it is late, so I better cut this short. I am excited about the message we will hear tomorrow at Mobberly on relationships!