20 Years Strong and Only Getting Stronger

20 years ago kneeling over an altar, I said yes and covenanted with Travis our eternities.  We were surrounded by friends and family, dressed in white, and wildly naive as to what marriage was.

Today at the 20 year mark, I know that marriage is sleepless tag team nights of child rearing, stressful disagreements in lean financial times, comforting hugs through loss and heartbreak, and the best friend, roommate, and dreamy crush all in one.

As I ran this morning, I imagined our 40 year anniversary.  All the kids grown with kids and families of their own.  I saw Travis retired and constantly by my side, always my fondest wish, doting on and spoiling our children and grandchildren.  I see afternoon naps spooned together like when we used to date.  

Then my mind spun to your 60 year anniversary.  I imagined us hanging onto one another as we wonder our house because we can't remember where we laid things down at, shuffling more slowly but still busily engaged in our hobbies.  I see grandkids popping in and out checking on us and us dozing on and off as we watch movies together in the afternoons.

God willing we may even make it to 70 years that is how young we were married, but my youthfulness in choosing him and him me has not ever given me one moment's pause. he has always been and continues to be my sure thing.  My confidence in him and us only grows stronger with each passing day.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABE! Eat well, exercise lots, and get some sleep because I have big and busy plans for our future.

Some of My Favorite Things...

...come in a dozen.  If you know me at all doughnuts, flowers, eggs, condoms (there's a whole story behind this), pastries, bread, rolls, cookies etc -It's like a whole categorical problem for me-, but moving on....apostles, and lots of religious symbols, and time (months). Never thought I'd see the day where apostles and condoms were in the same sentence, although technically it's a run on and if properly editted would likely be two sentences, but I digress.

But my very favorite thing is my marriage.  A short 8 days ago Travis and I celebrated 12 years of wedded bliss.  We've lived in 5 states and many more homes, some we loved, some we didn't, but we always made a home where we were.  And they were filled with love and laughter, tears of joy and pain, lots of baked goods and straight chocolate.  We've had amazing years and some that were not as good.  We've had scary months and fantastic adventures.  We've literally logged tens of thousands of driving miles and even more flying miles playing get to know you games with one another until we've exhausted every last bit of history of our life before we met one another. 

I've been raging mad at Travis and deliriously happy.  And every moment of every day since I got married twelve years ago I've always thought I am the luckiest woman in the world.  My life with Travis has been the longest stage of my life so far and hopefully since we got married so young our love and this stage will break records.  Because with him by my side, I want to be one of those old (100+) couples shuffling down the walkways of a very nice assisted living facility holding onto one another outlasting the current world record couple's record of almost 88 years.  Die already Chands and give the rest of us a one in a million chance - will ya?  But that chick was 13 when she got married and that my friends is just a touch disturbing.  But I digress again.  It's a bit of a problem.

I guess the point is, I love this guy.  And I'm so glad he was home to celebrate it with me because there is no one I would rather spend my time with.  Love you babe, Happy late Anniversary! XOXO

Celebrating 11 Years

My 11 Favorite Things About Travis

11.  He is uber strong - pound for pound I have not met anyone stronger.

10. Travis is totally without guile.

9.  With him I am a better person.

8.  He loves to be near me and will fall asleep on the floor by me if I'm not ready to go to bed yet.

7.  The eye contact and unspoken language we have developed as a couple.

6.  Literally the World's Best Dad!

5.  His very reserved, but hilarious sense of humor.

4.  Loves to help out - anyone with anything!

3.  Travis is a super hunk.

2.  He is the kindest man I have ever met.

1. He picked me to be his wife!

Thanks for the best 11 years of my life so far.  Here's to another 50!

Remembering

Upon reaching ten years of wedded bliss, Travis and I realized that Wednesday was not a practical day to celebrate not even considering his responsibilities as Scout Master to attend a Court of Honor that night. So we quickly scheduled Friday night and secured a babysitter. One of my besties recommended her three top dining hotspots and because she is a foodie I totally trusted her judgement. After revieiwing the online menus, choice 1 was a bit too exotic for Travis and I knew he would find nothing he to eat there. So bestie and I made follow up plans to visit there another time. Choice 2 seemed to have a couple of options that would appease Travis's tastebuds while stretching his ideas about dinner, namely that it should consist of a piece of meat and some potatoe product. Checkers Bistro in downtown Lancaster proved amazing. And radical yet amazing food aside, Shrimp and Lobster Tamales and Open Faced Seafood Brushetta, we had such a good time reliving our most joyful moments, our biggest fights, and our greatest accomplishments in those ten years. And I walked away even more in love with the man I married.And for one more walk down memory lane, I had secretly set up some miniture golfing for us after dinner. This was our first date activity. We had competed fiercely the night of our first offical date, also my 18th birthday, and I had won by one stroke. Stored in my scrapbook for safekeeping many years later I recalculated the scores on the scorecard to discover we had actually tied. And on the rare occasions of miniture golfing since we still compete somewhat fiercely alternating who wins. And so it is with our marriage, each of us through our own actions bolsters the other to do their best. And on the way home and tons of ridiculous photos we found that we are still having as much fun as ever. And I couldn't be happier about that and the prospect of another ten years.

(Yes I know that these are not flattering shots and our eyes are shut, but we are happy!)

A Decade

What have you spent the last decade doing? I have spent it giving thanks because I have the world's best husband. Ten years ago today we were married and every day is sweeter than the last. We play with each other in the same way we always have except now we include four beautiful and positively vivacious children in that sacred time.

And when I think of all the people dating and thinking of marriage, I offer only this advice as it is my very greatest, marry your best friend - the hottest best friend you have of course, marry him/her right away. Because even though you will fight, which you will, the minutes of discord will be excruiciating so much that you'll do anything to make up. And when it is time to play there is no other person you will want to play with more. Every experience for the rest of your life will be better because your best friend is there sharing it with you.

And so to Travis my very best friend. I love you babe. You will forever be my rutter and I your motor. You steer me on a true path and I'll use my energy to take us anywhere we want to go. XOXOXO