12th Anniversary

June 5, 2021 - 12 Years of this wonderful life together. Here are a few throwback pictures of us: 

2009- Dating

2010 - Some friends posted these pictures of us and I don't think that I have them anywhere on the blog!

We were just recently talking about how long we've been married and how those early years seem a lifetime ago. People often talk about how the first year of marriage is so difficult, but we never felt that way. Of course there are adjustments that have to be made and bumps along the road as you learn to live with and deeply communicate with your spouse -- but I'm so grateful that we've been able to learn and grow together. 12 year is a long time, but also - when we've been married for 30 or 40 or 50 years I know that we will look back at 12 years and it will be lumped into "those early years". It makes me want to work harder and do better at continuing to learn and grow, continuing to communicate, and making the effort to build a lasting foundation for our marriage and our lives.

Some wedding photos, just because they make me so happy: 

For our anniversary this year, Jenna watched out kids and we spent the whole day at the parade of homes. We walked through beautiful houses, discussed what we loved and what our critiques were, and dreamed of a future custom-built house with all of our favorite things. We stopped and ate delicious food whenever we wanted to and mostly just enjoyed being together. We had talked about a few other options for the day, but we were enjoying ourselves so much that we just kept at it and hit almost 20 of the 26 or so homes. One of the highlights from the day was finding my favorite painting hanging in the hallway of one of the homes. This painting hangs in the Mount Timpanogos temple and I have tried for YEARS to find a place we could buy a copy of it. Each time I go to the temple, I pause right by the temple offices where it hangs and just soak in the spirit of the painting. Imagine my surprise when we turned the corner and saw it (I'm pretty sure I audibly gasped.) We asked the builders where they had gotten it and then handed us a card to a little art shop in Provo. We immediately left and drove right there happily discovering smaller prints for sale in their shop! We ended up with a 16x20 size for $100 (basically our entire anniversary budget) and I am SO happy. It hangs in our room right by our bed and it brings me so much joy. I had initially wanted a very large print to hang in our family room but after not being able to find it, we bought a different "First Vision" painting and I love it, too. Even though we didn't need it for the initial spot we wanted we couldn't pass up the opportunity to own our own copy. 

David is everything that I could want in a husband. He is kind, loyal, and funny. He offers me support in all the ways that matter most and makes me feel like a rockstar basically 100% of the time. He works hard for our family and takes his role of provider seriously. He has taught me how to budget and enjoy it. He gives me the pickles off of his hamburger in restaurants instead of just ordering it without pickles. He teases me without sarcasm and when I tell him "You're going to be in trouble" he laughs and says "don't make me be in trouble!" then comes to tickle or kiss me. He's an amazing father to our children and my heart melts as I watch him teaching, playing, and loving them. My favorite parts of each day revolve around him and having him work from home this past year and a half has been the best (for me at least). 

Sometimes when I see others around us struggling in their marriages, or when we see people that we are close to getting divorced, it makes me anxious and scared. What if this amazing life we have crumbles around us? But David is always there to reassure me of his love and dedication. We are working together and even if the storms may rage, we will stay faithful and true to the things that are important to us. I love this man with all my heart and I hope that he feels as loved and supported as he makes me feel. 

We often talk about how the next ten years will be some of the most impactful years of our family. We know that they will be hard work - but we're committed to putting in the efforts now to build foundations, strengthen confidence, encourage faith, teach habits, and create traditions. This family means everything to us. As I look back and see the two college kids we started as and see the young family we have created I am more encouraged than every to keep working every day to create a beautiful life together. It fills me with hope for the future for us and our children. 

Some favorite pictures of us over the past year: 





Happy Anniversary David. I love you more than words can say.