fifteen

1996 | till forever


1997 | graduation & 1998


2000 | we became parents


2001 | the Christmas we found out we were having another girl


2002 | meeting tess


2003


2004 | megan arrived


2005 | I wish I knew why we were laughing


2006 | lighthouse tour


2007 | game on


2008 | pastime


2009 | sunday naps


2010 | date night


2011 | favorite place to be

"The secret is not in your hand or your eye or your voice, my aunt told me once. The secret is in your heart. Of course, she said, knowing that doesn't make it any easier." ~storypeople

Through the good times and bad, and there have been plenty of both, we've come to understand that it doesn't matter how long we're together, each day is a new day and another opportunity for us to learn and grow together -- because just when we think we've got it, we realize, we're not even close.

Sure has been a memorable fifteen years. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

fourteen years

In the end, I think that I will like that we were sitting on the bed, talking & wondering where the time had gone.
-Storypeople



Fourteen years seems like a very long time, I know the hostess at the restaurant last night was pretty shocked when we told her. I couldn't decide if it was because we were still married after fourteen years or that we looked too young to be married that long. Yes, I admit it does seem like being married at 20 is crazy, insane, but as a 20 year old I felt more than capable of making such an important decision & honestly I was. Adam is the best decision I've ever made and I'm so grateful we stumbled into each others life over 15 years ago.

I'm grateful because we've had the opportunity to grow up together. We've been through a lot the last 14 years that has brought us to where we are today. We struggled, we pushed and pulled so to speak, until we were able to figure out what we needed--what worked for us. And so we've found this beautiful place of understanding, trust, forgiveness, & joy. Of course it's not just a one time lesson, a marriage is never done, just like us as individuals, we are constantly learning from each other, constantly maneuvering to find the right balance.

Without sounding like a cliché--he completes me. He does. He's everything I need him to be and provides me with all the rest. I'm grateful for what we have. Not a day goes by without me giving thanks for the life we have created together & the work we've done to make it so.

Adam--perhaps its my tired mind, but as I sit and type I feel my words aren't adequately expressing what my heart feels. I love you. What more can I say--you are everything.

xxox

my glimpse

this is a reflection from a store window. i loved the way it turned out sort of like a collage with the busyness of what's going on behind us and just a hint of us framed in the mirror. definitely a new favorite.


saw a stack of LOVE books and thought how appropriate for the day.


the outdoor water show. shot this while walking by with my camera at my side.


treating ourselves to dinner at flemings.


if you can't tell already i have a thing for reflections. i saw this cool fountain/waterfall in z-gallery and couldn't resist.


anthropologie is a like a world of it's own. you walk in and the smell captures you right away and you can't help, but be sucked in. we usually split apart making our way, taking our time looking at all the goodness. while roaming i saw this man and a book and knew he had found a very happy place. i could have easily left him in there for hours.

last but not least, here would be a picture of the two of us side by side completely immersed and enjoying a most relaxing full body massage. i can't speak for adam, but it was the best massage i've had in a very long time. one of my favorite things about celebrating our anniversary is giving a massage to each other as a gift and enjoying it together. you should definitely try it.

twelve

[photo by Bella]

What I've learned in our twelve years together is marriage is not something you arrive at, it's something you work for everyday...together. I think once both of us truly understood that our life together changed.

After twelve years I can still say he makes me laugh everyday. After 4380 days I can still say hearing the garage door open and seeing him walk up the stairs is one of the best parts of my day. After 105,120 hours I can still say he listens with the intent to help and understand. After 6,307,200 minutes I can still say his touch is still as sweet. After 378,432,000 seconds that have gone by I can still say being with him is my absolute favorite thing.

love, we've had some growing pains during these last twelve years, but I can honestly say I am grateful for them because it has brought us here. I luv.

eleven

may 2007

On this day eleven years ago Adam and I came as two and left as one. It's amazing how much you become a part of one another once you're married and committed to each other's happiness.

I have a lot to thank him for. He has been apart of my life for more than a 1/3 of it and I have learned more about living in that time then I ever thought possible. He has taught me to love and to trust. To do and to be. To live and to give.

Most importantly I have learned the process of understanding each other and creating an eternal marriage is on going. You're never complete, but always forming, always shaping into where you are at the moment just in time to change and mold into something new, more beautiful than before.

Adam my love, I love you dearly and with my whole heart. You are everything I ever wanted even when I didn't know it. Thank you for your patience, your love, and for 11 memorable years. lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

back on top!

1. Feeling really good this morning, but not pushing it too hard. I had a race (running) with Bella before she left for school and realized I am not all there. What was I thinking anyway?

2. Just got done finishing up Bella's Opera Scrapbook for her class. I am not that happy with it as I was limited on color printing, but for what I saw in the past it will workout perfectly. Just glad it is behind me now. (the photo to the left is the cover of the scrapbook Adam drew)

3. I think little tess maybe getting sick. What is this bug that Megan caught? UGH! She's napping now which is nice for me, but hoping when she wakes up she will be her cheery self. If anything at least I know it will only last 24 hours.

4 . Adam and I celebrated our 11th year anniversary to our first date in bed sick yesterday. Good times! At least we were together right? This photo was the very first photo taken of us by Jill. It is still one of my favorites.

5. I desperately want to get my stamps out in the open so I know what I have to work with. I think I may try to hang the shelves I had in my other studio on the wall eventhough I previously thought it was too big. It's just doesn't make sense not having them out.

Ok so that's it for now. I have loads of laundry to do, need to change my sheets, and a house to put back together. It's amazing what one day out of commission will do to our living space. DISASTER!!