I thought it would be a great time to write a post about our 15th Anniversary trip we took in October. I have been enjoying looking at our pictures over and over again especially on these snowy days.
But first, here's our love story…..how cupid struck love with his arrow…..17 years ago!
We met Super Bowl weekend 1997 through mutual friends. Growing up in the same small town we found it hard to believe we had never met before; however, we were able to make some connections. The weekend ended with a win for the Green Bay Packers (yes, I had to look that up!!!), but little did we both know the true winners of that weekend were us.
After meeting for the first time, we went on our first "real" date FOUR days later. It was the date which would change my life forever, as it was my last "first" date. Twenty days after we met, we celebrated our first Valentine's Day together (this is our 17th!!!). Love was in the air! So much in fact we were riding on cloud nine and couldn't believe we found each other. We were inseparable.
I was a junior in college and Will had graduated nine months earlier. Young, wild and crazy….and in love. Through our early stages of dating I wasn't even 21 yet! Four months after Valentine's Day I celebrated my 21st birthday! Finally! I was the last of my friends to enter the world of being "legal". My parents threw me a party with friends and family and it was a fun night….a little too fun!
I will not share the details of the late night part of the evening with everyone, as I don't want to embarrass myself (if you want all the details you will have to ask Will!), but let's just say when someone offers you a shot of Prairie Fire…don't take it! Young, crazy, wild…..and stupid! That was me. After that shot, I thought I was going to die….literally. We went home and I just wanted the night to end. Will was taking me away the next morning for my birthday and I just wanted to wake up feeling my best.
That. Didn't. Happen.
Little did I know my stupidity was also throwing a monkey wrench into his plans. This should have been a sign for him….of the future with me…lol!
The next day came and we did leave for our weekend away….just a little later than we were hoping….ok a lot later! We checked into our B&B on the coast of North Carolina well after the sun went down. While I slept like a baby that night, Will was up tossing and turning….but I didn't notice. He had the weekend all planned out, but of course I messed up his plans. However, he didn't skip a beat and had Plan B in place.
Our breakfast the next morning consisted of French Toast with Ice Cream and fresh fruit….it looked so incredible and I couldn't wait to devour mine, as I was starving from the lack of eating the day before. I lifted my cover off my plate to find a little box in place of French Toast. Suddenly my hunger pains vanished….I was so nervous.
And then he popped the question, "Will you marry me?" FIVE months from Super Bowl Weekend!
As you can probably guess, I said "yes"….and when my plate finally came up to the room….I barely touched it…as I was so excited and a little nervous…butterflies were swimming in my stomach. I was engaged! I was getting married!
Ok…fast forward….
- May 1998 I graduated from College
- September 1998 we were married and then left for the Fiji Islands on our honeymoon….paradise!
- September 2001 we welcomed our first little bundle of joy into our lives….Anna Cate
- October 2004 we welcomed our second little bundle of joy into our lives…Betsie
- May 2005 we moved to RVA so Will could pursue a new career and went to law school
- November 2006 Anna Cate was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome AND a week later I found out I was pregnant with Eli
- July 2007 we welcomed our third bundle of joy into our lives….Eli
- May 2008 Will graduated from law school
- October 2008 Will found out he passed the bar!
- …..Present life….
When Will and I got married we promised each other we would celebrate every anniversary in a special way…especially the big ones. Little did we know in 1998 how important these celebrations would be….and by celebrating I mean….taking time away from our busy schedules for each other.
September 1999 (1st anniversary) we played like little kids at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios….even braved Hurricane Floyd!
Dinner at the chef's table at Victoria and Albert's
September 2003 (5th anniversary) we headed to San Diego and La Jolla….and left town hours before Hurricane Isabel!
September 2008 (10th anniversary) we celebrated early in July and August as Will was started his new job as an attorney in September….we spent four weeks at the beach with the kids as we knew it would be a long time before we would be able to spend four consecutive weeks anywhere! And there were NO storms!!!
Will and I have always been good about making time for ourselves to spend time together. We are also very fortunate to have my parents who are willing to watch the kids overnight or longer. This time together is especially important after Anna Cate was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome 8 years ago. However, as our schedules get busier and the kids get older, this becomes harder and harder, yet we make it a priority….you have to! I can honestly say, it is because of our date nights and weekends away we are able to make it through the tough times.
Trying to have a conversation with Will at night doesn't even happen until 9:00pm. When he comes home, he has three other little bodies who want his attention just as much as I do. We used to try and have a conversation and talk about the day only to find ourselves being interrupted ten times and getting upset with the kids every time. But I get it….they want Daddy too. So we finally learned to not even try to discuss anything until they are in bed. It's a win win for everyone.
When our trip to Europe was approaching we were getting very excited! And nervous….well, I was…secretly. We were leaving the kids home for 2 weeks!!! I knew they were in fantastic hands, it was all the worrying of the unknowns I was most concerned about….like what if we don't come back. I hate to fly and this was giving me severe anxiety! A dear friend sent me this verse,
I would joke with friends and say, what are we going to talk about for 2 weeks?!?! I will have Will's attention 100% for TWO WHOLE weeks….wow! What is it going to be like?
It was wonderful. It was rewarding. It made me reflect on my life and how lucky I am.
When I met Will at the young age of 20 and then married him at 21, I loved him. I truly did. But I can say I love him more today than I did then. What I thought love was then, is nothing to what I know love is today. God had plans for me and I didn't realize then the true gift he was giving to me when he gave me Will.
I can not imagine my life without him. I can not imagine my journey with Rett Syndrome without him by my side. He is the most incredible husband, father and best friend.
He let's me sleep in every weekend and on snow days; he enjoys playing with the kids in the snow as he knows I am not a snow bunny and will go into work late so he can play with them; he understands the importance of my friendships with my girlfriends and encourages me to have time with them…even weekends away; he supports me in everything I do…even if he is a little uncertain, but knows it is important to me; he is so amazing with our children and has special dates with each one…every weekend; he works incredibly hard for our family; he makes me laugh and his jokes are often timed perfectly; he still surprises me throughout the year; and this is just a taste of all the wonderful things he does…
And he loves me with all my quirks and all….with all his heart! Don't get me wrong we still have disagreements and can annoy each other…who doesn't. But at the end of the day, love wins.
Two weeks together with no interruptions…no kids…no work….was refreshing. It was like we were in our 20's all over again. We relived the past, talked about the present and planned for the future. We appreciated the time together and enjoyed every second. The trip helped us to realize we were on this journey together for a reason. In areas I fail, he picks up and vice versa. We are not perfect, but we understand each other and grow with each other every day.
While I would love to share all 1000+ pictures from our trip, I will share some of my favorites from each place we visited. I hope you enjoy them.
First Stop….Rome
Second Stop, Cinque Terre
Third Stop, Lake Como
Yes….this is all I had for TWO weeks!
Our room with a view
Fourth Stop….Luzern
Our view from the train traveling to Luzern….
On the our third day we had an adventure to Jungfrau….total travel time 8 hours!
Fifth and final stop…Zurich…it rained our one day here :(
Happy Valentine's to my one and only love….
The very thought of you makes my heart sing
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring
And you appear in all your splendor
My one and only love
The shadow's fall and spreads their mystique charms
In the hush of night while you're in my arms
I feel your lips, so warm and tender, yes
My one and only love
The touch of your hand is like heaven
A heaven that I've never known
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
Tell me that you in are my own, baby
You fill my eager heart with such desire
Every kiss you give sets my soul on fire
I give myself in sweet surrender, baby
My one and only love
Baby, you fill my eager heart with such desire
Every kiss you give sets my soul on fire
I give myself in sweet surrender, baby
My one and only love, yes
My one and, my only love
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring
And you appear in all your splendor
My one and only love
The shadow's fall and spreads their mystique charms
In the hush of night while you're in my arms
I feel your lips, so warm and tender, yes
My one and only love
The touch of your hand is like heaven
A heaven that I've never known
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
Tell me that you in are my own, baby
You fill my eager heart with such desire
Every kiss you give sets my soul on fire
I give myself in sweet surrender, baby
My one and only love
Baby, you fill my eager heart with such desire
Every kiss you give sets my soul on fire
I give myself in sweet surrender, baby
My one and only love, yes
My one and, my only love
**Lyrics from Louis Armstrong's My One and Only Love**
Will I love you with all my heart! Happy Valentine's Day!
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