Eleven years, and a much overdo getaway!

This month we celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary! We had intended to try to getaway for our 10th anniversary, but timing did not work out. This year we were so grateful that Jeff's Mom and our niece Kaylin were able to come and take care of our crew so that we could get away together. This is our first time away from the kids since before Gracie was born! We visited Tennessee, which was a first time in that state for both of us! Our cabin was adorable and we had a wonderful time exploring the area. We are so grateful for eleven years of life together with all the joy and struggles faced as a team!

10 Years ago today....

Our life as a team began. 

Happy Anniversary to us!

A Day to Celebrate!

Today is a special day of celebration. It marks our 9th Anniversary!! Happy Anniversary to my best friend. I love you!

We share our anniversary with my Mother's birthday. "Grammy" has 23 grand-baby blessings. Here is a short video from all of her grandchildren wishing her a happy birthday!

8 years ago today......

7 years and counting....

On Monday we celebrated our 7th year of marriage! (No Seven Year Itch for us) We were actually able to find a babysitter to go out for a wonderful date including sushi and frozen yogurt. Yes, I know, pregnant women aren't supposed to eat sushi, but you can as long as you don't eat raw fish. Yes, it sounds like a contradiction to have cooked sushi, but the place we go has several alternatives. :) Thank you Lord for seven years of marriage!!

6 years and counting.....

I can hardly believe that today marks our 6th wedding anniversary!!! It really seems like just yesterday! Thank you Lord for the gift of marriage and all that you teach us about Yourself through each other. Thank you for the gift of my husband and our six years together!!

Here is a short clip of photos of our last 6 years (plus our dating year). When making this video I realized that we have become horrible at taking pictures of just the two of us once we added kids to the picture, but I am going to try to work on that!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Family of Five in Five years!

Today we celebrate our 5 year anniversary! Five years ago today, among family, friends and snow flurries Jeff and I joined into this special covenant of marriage. It occurred to us that we have become a family of five in just five years! (Just in case you are wondering we are not planning on keeping to this ratio!!)
Happy five years to us and Happy Birthday to my Mom who also shares this happy day with us!

Thank you Hubby!!!

Just a quick note to ask you for prayer for our family. The boys have come down with fevers and a stomach bug and I have been hit hard by some sort of cold or flu. I had to stay home from work today, and we are praying that it does not turn into pneumonia, as most colds do for me with my asthma. Please pray that we would all be healthy soon!

On another note, my sweet hubby gave me a WONDERFUL present today, he says it is a "Happy 3rd Trimester Present".....but whatever the reason, my hubby knows me well. He bought me the newest CD from Selah!!! If you know me at all, you know that I adore every song/CD ever produced by this group. This CD is no different, I LOVE IT!! (If you were at our wedding, the song I came down the aisle to was Selah's rendition of "You raise me up.")



This CD was especially meaningful. The group has taken a break over the last year or so because one of the main members of the group, Todd Smith and his wife Angie lost a baby girl. They were told at an 18 week ultrasound that their daughter was "not compatible with life" and given the choice to terminate their pregnancy. Todd and Angie chose to carry their daughter to term, and lost her two hours after she was born. Their story is amazing and the last song of this CD is dedicated to their daughter, and other children and families that have lost lives in similar circumstances. It is beautiful. More of their story is found on their blog www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com

Okay, that is all for now. I am going to go back to shivering and coughing under a blanket while it rains outside and I listen to my new CD while the boys nap!

Mer

March 12, 2005....Four Years!!!!

Today is our four year anniversary! Here is a short montage with a few pictures of our dating year, proposal, and wedding! Jeff and I met in December of 2003. In January I had shoulder surgery and my friends from church (including Jeff) helped drive me to physical therapy appointments, take out my trash, and help care for Clara while I was unable to do those things. My Mom had also flown out to take care of me and was immediately impressed with Jeff. One night, much to our dismay, we had discovered a small mouse in my kitchen. My mother and I are both deathly afraid of the small creatures. We had set traps, which were successful, but neither one of us would even go downstairs to check on them. My mom suggested that I call that nice young man named Jeff to come help us out. Indeed he did, my hero! In March of 2004 we started dating. In November of 2004 we flew out to Phoenix to visit my family for by birthday and Thanksgiving. We also had a trip to the Grand Canyon, which is where Jeff proposed on November 28, 2004. We were married at the Langley Air Force Base Chapel on March 12, 2005!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Four years later, here we are with many, many more years to come! I love you Hubby!

Thank you Mom and Dad!

This weekend Jeff's parents gave us a wonderful gift of a weekend away! Luke and Ben will get to spend one on one time with their grandparents and Jeff and I get to spend one on one time together! What a precious gift!!!
We started out yesterday morning headed to New Bern, NC which was the original capital of North Carolina as a colony. We saw a sign for a Country Doctor's Museum on the way, and decided to stop in. It is a very short trip from Raleigh, so we did not stay long but will be back another time to enjoy it more. When we got to New Bern we spent most of the day touring Tryon Palace, which was the seat of government and home of the original NC governor. It reminded us a lot of Williamsburg, VA just not as busy!

They have a ton of gardens which I am sure are spectacular in the Spring!

This weekend has been so cold, it was 16 degrees when we started our trip. All the fountains in the gardens were frozen.

After we checked into our bed and breakfast, we walked around downtown a bit to see the shops. We ate dinner at Morgan's Tavern and Grill! Who knew we had a restaurant named for us?

Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa, we know Luke and Ben are having a blast too!
Love,
Jeff and Mer