22

We celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary over the weekend.

Justin started off the day taking Ellie to an AHG badge event.

Then he brought me these beautiful flowers.

I made dinner for these guys before we headed out.

I picked out an Irish pub that had a band playing.  We got the last table in that room.  It was such a treat.

We didn’t stay out late: we only have Katie occasionally right now, and got to tell all the kids good night before the went to bed.

We were also very thankful we weren’t on our way home a few seconds earlier.  Two cars crashed right in front of us, one spinning through our lane and up on the shoulder right in front of us.  Everyone seemed to be shaken, but safe.  We were so grateful to have only been bystanders.  Justin checked on everyone, and having not seen who was responsible for the accident, when it was safe, we went on home.

Sixteen

I am so very grateful to have been married to my dearest friend for sixteen years.  We've had some difficult patches, some curve balls thrown our way, but we have had triumphs, and many joys.

 Wesley Foundation Halloween - 1998

Wedding - 1999

Friends' Wedding - 2002

Bob Evan's Parking Lot, Evansville - 2006

Date night - 2010

4th of July (back yard)- 2012

Fort Morgan, Alabama - 2015

And we've been through it all together.

15

 5479 dinners--almost everyone of them together (our first Thanksgiving)

 

48 (immediate) family birthday celebrations

 dozens of road trips 

15 years ago we said, "I do."

 

14 trips back and forth to Kansas (our last night in Kansas)

 

13 home improvement projects (the bathroom in our first house...mid demo.)

12 weddings attended

 

11 years of yard work

 

10 car seats/booster seats (!)

 

9 jobs

8 cities

 

7 hospital visits (4 babies, 1 set of stitches, and twice for Kate's arm)

 6 leases

 

5 vehicle purchases (van not in motion--I promise!)

4 children, 4 states

3 degrees, 3 home purchases

 

2 hearts

1 family

Thanks for being my best friend and partner on this crazy ride.  I love you!

Happy Anniversary!