Happy Anniversary--um, late!

March 13, 1999...it was cold, it was blustery, and it was perfect. This was the day I married my best friend in the whole world, Tony. We had dated since the beginning of my freshman year and his sophomore year. In high school. Yes, high school. We met at a youth group meeting at our church...where his mom was the leader! I remember it well! It was in May because we were celebrating one of his (now our) best friend Paul's birthdays. It was fun. These guys were upperclassmen and fun! By that August, we were officially dating!

Tony is what I would call a planner and a provider. He worked hard in high school and was bound for college (all while working at his dad's service station).

Tony decided to stay local for college (hmmm, wonder why he did that) and worked hard on his career plans. He was determined to graduate from college and have his career established before we started a life together. Half of me was so impressed and thrilled that he wanted to provide security for me, for our future. The other half of me (ok, more like 3/4 of me) wanted to start our lives together. NOW!

Well, Tony got his first "real" job, bought a house and then proposed! He proposed in November (the same month eight years later we met our girls...actually, down to the same week...the week before Thanksgiving!) and we were married in March. It was a fun ceremony with our two of our good friends and pastors performing the ceremony. The hallelujiah chorus played after they announced us as man and wife and bolted out the door to run through McD*nald's drive-through! Our reception was fun, and our cake was topped with Hot Wheels! What a memorable day! (It was complete with bridesmaids dressed I loved and they hated. hehe)

Over the past ten years we have grown up and grown together in so many ways. We have moved once, changed jobs once or twice, and built our family. We have suffered through the deaths of a few family members, and the deaths two pets we considered our first "children". We have had to step out in faith together, and pray for direction. We have laughed, cried, fought, made-up, laughed some more, and loved intensely.

Words will NEVER be able to express the love I have for Tony. God spoiled me rotten with this man. He puts God first, and cherishes his family next. He always thinks of others before himself and challenges me to push myself and grow in God and in life.

I am so happy we have been blessed to enjoy 10 years as a married couple (that's almost 19 years total together for those of you keeping track). I pray that God blesses us with a hundred more years together!

I love you, Tony! Happy 10th anniversary!