8.26.2000* - The first of two anniversaries ;)

I married Rick on a hot summer evening in 2000...it was a wedding that was funded by the two of us (+my DQ boss).  It was a beautiful ceremony - lots of bridesmaids and groomsmen, on fantabulous singer ;) and two really cute flower girls.  The day was full of love and laughter.  It was a wonderful way to start our lives together as a married couple.  Fast forward to August 28th, 2001 - the birth of our beautiful daughter (Jaylin Marie) - a nice addition to our little family, from two to three.  Fast forward to September 11, 2001 - The day our country was attacked, Rick said at that moment "I guess I'm off to war soon" and sure enough by March of 2001 he was gone...it was the longest 17 months of my life.  Fast forward to June 4, 2005 - the birth of our sweet son (Hunter Stephen) - a nice addition to our family, from three to four.  Life was good...we were happy, in love and working together to achieve the goals that we'd set forth for our family - Rick started his job at the PD and I started working on my Master's degree...it was difficult but we managed.  Fast Forward to March of 2008 - bombshell dropped on me and it resulted in a break in our little happy home.  I never saw it coming....apparently neither did he...until the very end. The second longest 17 months of my life.   Fast Forward to August 2009 - Reconciliation - by the grace of God Rick and I were able to start working on repairing our marriage and moving forward with our lives.  Fast Foward to September 2010 - The second Anniversary date - a nice service and rededication of our love for each other.  Fast Forward to August 2011 - Happier than ever....stronger in both our faith and in our love and faith in each other.  What a blessing....so what should be our 11th wedding anniversary is our 10th (of sorts)...the reason for the astericks.   I don't care about the number (well I do a little), but the most important thing is that we have each other and are more in love than ever and dedicated to treating our marriage and relationship like a fragile flower - to be nurtured and loved ever so gently. 

So happy anniversary to me.   <3