Drink one up it’s an anniversary!

Here’s to anniversaries…as of yesterday, Jeff and I have officially been married 19 years. It’s been a great 19 years – we’ve been together for over 22 and it just seems like yesterday that we met, more evidence of time flying by. I’ve told him that he truly is my Prince Charming…corny I know, but seriously, I knew the moment I laid eyes on him across a crowded bar. He took a little longer to convince!

December 28, 1991 - Jeff & I with my family (Brother Ed, Dad, Mom, Sister Cathy) and Sarah our flower girl and Justin our ring bearer

I’ve often said we are product of both of our parents…my dad was Navy. My mom was sitting in the officer’s club (insert “bar” here), with her parents no less. My Dad was dared by the young men he was with to go up and ask her to dance…which he did and soon they will reach the amazing milestone of 47 years married . Jeff’s folks met and were married within six weeks of meeting; they were married for over 52 years, something I'd like to aspire to! Well, I met Jeff in a bar…I picked him up to be more precise. He didn’t know what hit him that night! He and I met Thanksgiving weekend in 1988…Justin was born in October, 1989. I’ll let you do the math (that's that part that matches Jeff's folks, in case you didn't catch that reference). Needless to say the rest is history – our history…and it’s a great one, our history that is…our beautiful, sometimes challenging, always exciting adventure of life together.

He never ceases to amaze me at the support he has provided to our family, but more specifically to me, over the years; when I volunteer for things; when I tell him I’m giving everything up to go back to school; when we’ve had to drop everything for a sick child; when life has handed us lemons…we’ve always managed to make great lemonade together.

On December 28, 1991 I said "I do" to my best friend and our friendship just continues to get better with each passing year...so here’s to the next 20, 30 and 40+ years of our life together…

December

So where have I been? I started this thing and I’ve dropped it like a hot potato! It’s been a busy month, I can use that as my excuse…but I know it’s a lame one. I’ve been reading some other blogs, really good blogs I might add…and suddenly I am feeling pressure. Pressure to write well, pressure to take a ton of really awesome photos…I need to just GET OVER IT and do what I do and see what happens. Before I began this blog I had so many ideas but for the past few weeks I’ve been so busy most of those ideas have just gone out the window. I often think of great things in the shower – I need to invent something to write with or record with while showering, so when I have those great brainstorms in the shower they can be remembered because they are usually forgotten by the time I turn the water off.

So now I just keep asking myself, where did December go anyway? We all know that time flies when you’re having fun, but I have decided that it has nothing to do with having fun, it has everything to do with getting old! December came and went, more like the month of March for us here in Great Falls weather-wise – 15 inches of snow later! Unbelievable, no one new to town believes me when I tell them that this is unusual for us. We haven’t had a white Christmas in years. I keep telling Jeff if this continues I won’t have any hair left by March…warm weather I dream about you!

Christmas, wow…love love love it. I’ve always been a Christmas-aholic. Hmm, seems I’m a lot of ‘aholics’, maybe there’s a 12-step program for me, naw…I don’t want to be cured of my ‘aholic’ issues…I love books too much, I love Christmas too much, I love the Hallmark Channel in the month of December too much, far too many things in life I enjoy that aren’t bad for me – I refuse to give in, give up, go without! I’ve been reveling in this season so much I’ve forgotten everything else (obviously), I get lost in the magic.

Speaking of magic, my dear boy Jared, 19-year old that he is, still very much believes…and I am thrilled with it! It is so exciting to still have real magic happen in our house every Christmas. I pray he never ceases to believe…because I still very much do too!

I’m not usually one to make New Year’s resolutions, but for 2011 I resolve to be better about blogging. Random thoughts maybe, pictures maybe not (maybe occasionally), but blogging in some therapeutic fashion!

As I dance my way out of this year, the end of this first decade of the 2000’s and ring in the New Year, this new decade brings promise, excitement, and adventure…I look forward to it with anticipation, let the New Year begin!