A Decade Together

On May 4, 2002, I married my best friend and started a journey that I never could have imagined!  I've now spent 30% of my life as half of a married couple.  When I met this guy at Hurricane Harry's in College Station, Texas, I never had any idea that together we would travel and live around the world (and ironically, my parents were excited I met a guy from the Houston area because we'd probably never move too far away...ha!) and weather life's ups and downs together.  I definitely never thought we would create two little amazing people together, but that has without a doubt been our greatest adventure.  I could not have guessed we would have 6 different homes already, lived in 3 countries, visited 13 states and 19 countries. I thank the Lord for 10 amazing years together and I look forward to all that He has planned for our future, good and bad, because I know together Matt and I can do anything!

Here's a look back at our years together so far....and I realized we don't have a ton of pictures of just the two of us together.  We don't seem to take pictures of ourselves unless we're traveling!

Our first picture at the Dixie Chicken in September 1999

 
Ring Dance, April 2000

One of my last weekends in College Station before graduation

 

 My graduation, May 2000

 

 Matt's graduation, December 2000

 

Our official engagement picture, November 2001

 

Married!  What a magical, perfect night.  Even the rain shower that happened at 7pm, because fortunately the pastor was late and the ceremony hadn't started yet.

On our honeymoon in Antigua

 

 Another friend's wedding, 2003

 

Haleakala crater, Maui, 2003

Aruba, 2004

 

Rio de Janeiro, September 2005.  We didn't know at the time but it would be our last fling as a couple...soon after there was a bun in the oven!

 

 We became parents in May, 2006!  Since we weren't planning on meeting Ben until September, it was a terrifying ordeal but turned out to be an incredible blessing.  Truly our biggest challenge ever and we got through day by day, step by step, together.

In 2007, we moved to Singapore with Ben and started exploring Southeast Asia.  Phuket was our first stop.

In 2008, we were blessed again and this time under much better circumstances.  Alex rounded out our little family of four.

 

 November 2008, a pretty unforgettable trip to Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

 December 2009, Milford Sound, New Zealand

 April 2010, Sydney

 October 2011, London

 I love looking back over the pictures to see how much we've changed and to think of the countless happy memories we've made together.  Many of those memories don't have pictures, but I cherish those just as much - laughing together, playing games, seeing our kids grow and pick up some of our habits, even watching TV together on the couch.  Life is so wonderful when it's shared with the one you love.

Happy anniversary, Matt!  Here's to many, many more...

To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.
-Mark Twain