Happy 8th!

Anniversary that is! Today is our anniversary. It's hard to believe, but 8 years ago today on the hottest day of the summer of 2000 we got hitched! Other than the tremendous heat (107 degrees at ceremony time and my poor husband in a black tux!), it was a great day.

We've been through a lot together, many ups and downs, especially in our first year which was fraught with numerous tragedies and struggles. So many in fact, it begins to sound much like a soap opera when we tell all that happened that year. Let's just summarize by saying that in addition to being newlyweds we also faced new jobs, Doug's mom having a stroke, 5 family members passing away, witnessing a fatal car accident, home hunting (twice!), and moving 3 times. It's a blessing Caden didn't arrive that year! I'm not sure we would have survived an infant at that point. We decided on our first anniversary that if we could cope with all that, we could do jsut about anything together and face nearly any challenge and so far we have.

It sounds like we haven't had any good times in the last 8 years, but we've had many more good times than bad and most of the bad is a vague memory (minus that 1st year which is cemented in our memories just because of its intensity!)

I hope our next 8 years are as wonderful and happy as the first 8 have been! Happy Anniversary, Doug! I love you and the family and home we've created together!