16 years later, and...

You're still THE ONE...

Brian...and his other "loves"

Molly & his Blackberry :-)

Brian...and his other "loves"

Molly and his Blackberry :-)

Simple Pleasures

One of my most favorite things is my Gardenia Tree and Gardenia Bush...

Brian, bought them for me Mother's Day 2008. The tree and bush were green when we planted them and stayed green until winter when they went bare. They didn't bloom even once.

Until....

Now.

Aren't they lovely?

Jamaica

In Jamaica we....


enjoyed this view from our room/patio

went tubing - which was a blast!!! I actually lost my earning during this ride but THANKFULLY found it in the tube!

Learned to sail.

Hiked the Dunn's River Falls

We saw lots of sea life. In the photos above there is a live star fish, a tiny hermit crab and a sea urchin. All of which we released back to their natural habitat ;)

We went for long walks on the beach

Brian showed both his artistic and his romantic side ♥

We drank Champagne and toasted to the past 15 years.

mostly though...we acted like newlyweds.

We're Back...

We're home after 6 beautiful days and 5 peaceful nights in Montego Bay, Jamaica celebrating our 15 year wedding anniversary at the breathtaking Sandals resort.

Here's a snip it of our trip.

More pics and details to come.

Truth Be Told...

Our journey "through the years" this week paints a pretty picture of a happy couple madly in love who never struggled or had hard times...

But that my friends is not the truth.

I would be kidding only myself if I attempted to say that it's been all been easy and wonderful!!

Truth be told... years 5 through 7 were by far the MOST difficult.

There were times we both wanted to throw in the towel, admit defeat and start over (without each other!)

It was hard! We were "growing up", changing, advancing in our careers...We struggled with communication, meeting one another's needs, being sensitive, patient, we were unkind and said ugly ugly things...

It was difficult at best.

BUT...when Brian and I were first married we realized the odds we not in our favor. Not only were we so young but the divorce stats were off the charts without adding the age factor.

We agreed then, that we were "in it" for the long haul. The good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer. We were in this TOGETHER 'till death do us part.

And we meant it.

"Through the years" we have both spent a lot of time on our knees. CHOOSING to love (because we weren't "feeling" it) CHOOSING to forgive (because God knows the other didn't deserve it). And CHOOSING our marriage above all else.

I am SO thankful now in year 15 that Brian and I stuck together through those times. We are who we are today as a result and I wouldn't change a thing!

Our marriage wasn't always easy. We weren't always "in love". Sometimes we don't even like each other and we certainly have had "irreconcilable differences".

But through prayer, determination, hard work, forgiveness and sheer desire our marriage is exactly as our pictures reflect...a happy couple who love each other more than yesterday but less than tomorrow. ♥

*Thank you Lord Jesus for this man you have given to me*.

15 years ago...

Happy 15 year wedding anniversary to the LOVE of my life Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Years 11 through 15

11 years

12 years

13 years

14 years

Also 14 years

15 years and counting...

Years 6 -10

6 years - at a friends 30th birthday

Also 6 years - at my cousins wedding - we LOVE weddings

Year 7 - in Byron & Ashley's wedding

Year 8

Year 9

I can't remember which year - but I like the picture ;-)

Year 10 - our "real" family photo. Taken at Sadie and Ethan's welcome home party.