13th Wedding Anniversary

An anniversary does not go by that we don't reflect on the value of our parents.  I say it often and its a great reminder to us as parents, there is so much power in praying parents!   Our parents have both set strong examples and expectations of marriage, not just the pretty parts but the hard work, the stick by you, the late nights and early mornings with kids and careers, and a strong faith.   Thank you Mom and Dad and Major and Lynn for your countless hours of prayer, support and encouragement through our journey!  We are blessed by you.

From my Faebook Post:13 years ago (at our rehearsal dinner) Jimmy gave me a new Bible with the sweetest letter written as we started our lives together! I still cherish it and am thankful for all we have been through. 

With the girls already in Atlanta we snagged a quite dinner at St. Johns.  Its our favorite splurge restaurant which we laughed and said “wee were not eating here 13 years ago”.  That is because when we started our marriage we made a decision to buy a house and start to really tackle some big financial goals....paying off all credit cards, student loans and cash flowing my MBA program (the bank was going to pay for Jimmy’s).   To do this meant we ate out less, we did not buy new clothes often, we did not take fancy vacations (or really any unless they were trips to Ohio or Atlanta to see family), and we did not buy new furniture.    Those were big sacrifices to win later but we did it!   

From my Facebook Post:  Happy 13 years to us of marriage! Jimmy, if you would have told me when we started this journey we would be where we are today with all the joys and challenges life had brought us I know i could not have imagined it! I love you more than the day we said "I do". You are forgiving of me and the girls mistakes, you love us unconditionally giving up sleep on the weekends, Saturday's of watching Notre Dame football uninterrupted, and many more. You make me enjoy life and embrace the journey and dream rather than plan and stress over if and when we get there. I adore you and am excited about what the next 13 years will hold.

In 13 years we have: 

--lived in 2 homes

--had two beautiful daughters (and one miscarriage)

--5 cars 

--2 MBAs (plus some extra accounting courses ...not by the accounting major)

--7+different career roles 

--AND best of all worked through some of the hardest and best moments of our lives.  

I laughed and said 13 years has been full and really shaped who we are, when we get to the next 13 we will have an adult (Gracie will be 21) and a late teen (Maggie will be 18).   Jimmy said going through the teen years will make the next 13 the hardest.  Ha.  Maybe he will be surprised?

We dreamed together what our next goals are what that looks like when we get there (the girls college is paid, our house is paid, we can give more than we ever have and more). 

This year we grew by 4 paws….  never would I have dreamed!   

So blessed beyond measure!