Happy Valentine's Day! We have officially known each other for nearly half of my life and together over 16 years. Here are a few fond memories from our time together:
- It is funny how we almost met when we were teenagers. If you had gone on that church youth group trip to South Carolina, we would have encountered each other on the Burned Bridge in Charleston three or four years before we actually met. Perhaps it is better did not meet then since we were both somewhat awkward looking as teens.
- Remember the first time we met? I would say it was the opposite of love at first sight. I am glad that yellow tie was lost in one of our moves.
- That night when we decided to "date-to-marry" (wow, was I only 19?). What would those kids think of who we are today? We promised each other never to be tied to things and instead invest in our family and friends. We kept that promise for the most part. Remember Topher's reaction to the new toaster oven? It is as if he thought the $20 toaster oven from Walmart that you set on fire twice was worth replacing... :)
- Those late night phone calls pre-Skype really put a dent in the budget, but we learned so much about each other dreaming our dreams together. And I graduated with an A+ in Physics because I could do my homework while on the phone.
- Our wedding day was certainly memorable, especially the part where the cake did not arrive. We never did tell our friends where we had our first kiss. :) It was the day the most wonderful day of my life.
- After that wonderful day, we took turns sleeping so we could pack to move to California. Who knew you could fit stuff from two large houses into an apartment that is 500 sq ft big? Perhaps the 3 deep boxes, 8 ft high was a sign we had too much stuff.
- We were here in California "just one more year" every year. Remember how we looked at houses in NC every year, and we promised ourselves and all of our friends we would leave. This last visit to NC, when you told your parents we were going to stay our here, it was the end of an era of our lives. All of our friends in NC was sad, but all of our friends in CA just said, "I told you so!"
- Remember when we started a tiny little scrapbooking company out of our garage and you would come home to pack packages to ship? Maya Road is now a thriving company but that early days were fun but a bit harrowing.
- We bought our first house, a modest little home on a main street. And that is where we started our family. Remember how we used to take walks through the neighborhood? That is where we picked out our kids' names. And remember when we brought J back for the first time? It was 100+ degrees that week, and he cried non-stop. I remember thinking, "What have we gotten ourselves into?" He loved that old house and spent hours in the bay window watching the fire trucks go by.
- We traveled the world together from whirlwind Cathay Pacific All-Asia Pass trip after college (I still cannot believe you did not know that sound was rainwater dripping onto your bed!) to your crazy driving in London on the wrong side of the road. There was the Alaska cruise where our dads both got seasick, and the bike ride through Paris. And of course, the babymoon in Italy where I got very sick, and your prodded me out of bed each day on a force march through Rome to take in the sights.
- And how we had a hard time having baby Bethany? She is all grown up now at age 3 and much bigger than all of the girls in her class even though she is the youngest. She is a little chatterbox in all three languages.
- Can you believe we have our miracle baby? Danielle will forever be Daddy's little girl because she is your wish for our 10th wedding anniversary. I am grateful you talked me into having a third child since she is so cute and lying there on your chest napping as I write this.
- We have had so many memorable adventures. I am so glad I will never have to run through the airport 7 months pregnant holding all of our luggage as you carried the two kids to make the flight home. I am happy that when a soapy J kicked off your chest and flew across the bathroom and slammed in to the glass wall, he was okay. And when B went through her year of straight sickness and vomiting dozens of times a month, we were there together cleaning her up in the middle of the night. And when baby D lost so much weight from not being able to eat they almost put her in the hospital, you stayed up with me to force feed her every 3 hours.
- Thank you for being there was my dad has been so sick.
Through the trials and tribulations, joys and blessings of the past 16 years, we have been greatly blessed. I look forward to the years of new adventures that await us.