Because the Kids Aren’t Getting Any Younger

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Zachary, 10; Laurianna, 13; Kaleb, 8; McKenna, 12

So the kids are growing up. Proof positive in the picture above. In case you don’t recognize them - well, those are our four. It’s been a bit since I’ve shared a picture and looking at the family pictures on our wall in comparison - yikes.

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day and a chance to grab a few snapshots to document just how much they’ve grown and how beautiful (or handsome) they are becoming, both inside and out.

McKenna would love to have you notice that yes, she IS taller than her older sister. This is the first time in a long time that she has worn her hair down, which we love!

These two girls can be the best of friends or drive each other crazy all in the span of 15 minutes. They are growing into beautiful young ladies (that in and of itself sounds too grown up!).

And the boys - well, they aren’t so little anymore either. There’s a part of me that keeps thinking Kaleb is six. He’s eight. Sigh. It should be noted that Zachary wanted a pink shirt for Easter. He got plaid.

Rick and I aren’t getting any younger either - but you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. At all. This man is all sorts of amazing and I am blessed to have him and those crazy kids along for the ride.

Capturing the Love

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A few days after our tenth anniversary, a friend of ours was in town and we got together with her to take pictures of just Rick and I.

Because the last decent picture that involved the two of us in quiet bliss existed in the realm of B.C. - before children.

We snuck away for about an hour and despite my husband's belief that he doesn't do well taking pictures, Lisa took some amazing shots of us (check her out at Destination Photography). Sorting through the many pictures is taking some time, because there are too many that we really, really like. And just not enough wall space to put them all!

Other than having a recent picture I just wanted something that would show IT.

Love.

That after 10 years of marriage and 4 kids...there would be something that captured just a moment for us. The fun in our relationship.

The night after our shoot, Lisa emailed me a little "preview" of the pictures to come and I seriously sat at the computer and cried happy tears. Because everything that I had hoped we would have as a result of our time with her was completely pulled together in this one photo:


It's us. Having fun. Remembering how it all began years ago...just the two of us. Capturing the love.

Ten Years Later...

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Rick and I celebrated our 1oth anniversary this last weekend at a nearby bed and breakfast and just being together...

...without kids!!

We were so incredibly blessed, even just for ONE night to be able to slip away, spend some time together and just have fun.

Rick surprised me on our way to the bed and breakfast by offering to stop and find a casual dress for me to wear. None of the shoes I would like to wear are (ahem) fitting at the moment or are anywhere close to comfortable due to a certain toe being broken.

But offering to go shopping with me? I had to check his temperature. I'm not a big shopper myself. Do I love a bargain? Yes. Digging for said bargain? Not so much. And last time I went dress shopping I ended up crying in the dressing room. Mainly because I wasn't pregnant, but it looked like I was. We found a cute dress though that he loved (and me too!) and called it a successful day.

Dinner. Walking. Spending uninterrupted time together. We even managed to get a few pictures of each other...ok, more of me, but that's ok too - some cute ones for Rick's desk at work. Need to remind him that I can smile and I do clean up nicely. *grins*

Meeting my Husband

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My husband is feigning sleep. Because I am trying to convince him that it would be FUN for him to write a post on this blog. A sort of "He Says, She Says" on how we met. He has a small grin on his face and doesn't quite seem convinced.

Why about how we met? Well, this past weekend marked a tenth wedding anniversary for Rick and I. And eleven years together as a couple. It's really amazing how ten years can go by so quickly!

So...our story begins...

I moved to our town eleven years ago - very last minute - to start working on my graduate degree at a local university. I didn't know a soul. Couldn't even figure out what the local grocery store even looked like. Keep in mind this was before the boom of Walmart Supercenters - I could have figured that out.

My first Sunday in town I attended a local Baptist church because it was close to my apartment and it was visibly recognizable as a church. I'd poured over the yellow pages the week prior trying to find a church and tried to search out a few, but many of them met in different buildings and since I wasn't familiar with the town...well, the Baptist church was just easier to start with.

The church secretary was sitting behind me and later was a plethora of information on local grocery stores, shopping, and upon finding out my church background - referring me to a church that might be more of a fit for me personally.

The next week I attended that church and found a seat all by my little lonesome. Prepared to worship. Can you guess who was on worship team that week?

I remember one of the first thoughts that went through my mind was "Oh. Wow!...noticing ring finger...He's single!"

And then - "I am NOT here to meet a man! I am here to go to school."

Rick remembers seeing me come in and was going to ask me out that Sunday, but decided to wait and see if I came back the next week. I remember little else about that Sunday, but did like the church and decided to come back the next Sunday. So I did.

That next week I wanted to spend some time talking to the man in charge of the college group and also the youth pastor, since I had spent the last seven years working with my youth group at home. On my way to meet the youth pastor, I passed Rick and just said "hi" as I walked past him. After the church service while I was talking to the leader of the college group, I noticed Rick hanging around. And hanging around. And then he finally walked up.

I'm assuming he introduced himself (I don't remember much about this part), but at some point he invited me out to lunch, and I accepted. We picked a restaurant and got to know each other a little better.

Many of you probably don't know how to say my name (and many people who do know me can't quite say it either, so you're in good company, don't worry). And that day was no exception for Rick. While he was praying over lunch, he stopped in the middle of praying..."Thanks so much for this food and for.....quietly asking...'How do you say your name again?'"

He is so never going to live that one down.

After talking we decided to spend a little more time together.

***I will mention here that I still knew virtually no one in town, and did not call my mom after church to let her know I was going out for lunch.***


Rick ended up driving me around town after lunch and showing me where things were, and then took me back to his house to just hang out. We ended up having dinner together, went to a baseball game and then out for ice cream. By the time I got home it was after 10 pm.

My mom (who lived twelve hours away) was a little worried. There were SEVEN messages on the machine from her when I got home. As a mom now, I can understand her worries, but I was stuck up on a cloud somewhere, and just gushed about Rick to her. And sent an email to my pastor back home telling him about the wonderful man that I had just met....and who had paid for dinner. Sad, but true. While there were many other qualities that Rick possessed, at that point I was most impressed by how he treated me. He didn't make me pay. Didn't expect me to pay. Treated me like I was special.

And that made a world of difference.