Year Two

Today marks two years of being married to my best friend! October 3, 2009 was the happiest day of my life and it really was incredibly perfect. It will always be one of my most favorite days b/c no matter what happened I joined the most incredible man on a journey. I finally had someone to call mine. I have someone I can do life with. I come home to him everyday. Its small, but its the most precious thing to me. I have a favorite quote from one of my favorite movies, "Just Married". It stuck with me and I think about it often. "Some days your mother and me loved each other. Other days we had to work at it. You never see the hard days in a photo album...but those are the ones that get you from one happy snapshot to the next."

Thankfully, I can't think of any days that I've had to "work" at loving my husband, but I know that we probably will in the coming years. I do know and believe that love is a choice. Its not a feeling. I am so thankful for that b/c as women, we tend to be pretty emotional. Its good to know when I have an emotional day, that my emotions don't define my love for my husband...and his choice is to still love to me even when my attitude isn't easy to love. In the last year...
~My hubs left one career for another
~We went to Scotsdale, AZ for a business conference and then stayed for another day just vacation for our 1 year anniversary.
~Celebrated a friend's 40th birthday
~Lost a friend to cancer. Went to Minnesota to be with her family and love on them.
~Had a tumor removed that was on Lexis' face. She had to wear a cone for weeks just so she wouldn't scratch it. Ken slept downstairs with her for the first few days just to keep an eye on her.
~Celebrated Thanksgiving in Tulsa with my family and Ken's. So thankful that we were able to go to Utica Square's Lights On celebration. It was FREEZING! I just love it though.
~I did have some things that I struggled with letting go of my single life. My quiet time changed b/c I went from rely on God to get me through each day, to a quiet and content place where nothing was "wrong". I had to learn to enjoy God when I wasn't in a place to desperately need Him...but He continued to show me that I still do desperately need Him, just in different ways. :)
~God showed me that compromise is important. I always knew this, but circumstances happened that I wasn't prepared for making a compromise. Marriage definitely teaches you to be selfless. To decide what's truly important. I learned that MOST things aren't worth fighting over b/c my love for my husband is so much more important to me than getting my way.
~Continued our tradition of cutting down our Christmas tree!
~Built some incredible relationships. Some were new friendships and other were ones that became stronger. We are blessed with the people God has put in our life!
~Spent Christmas in Tulsa with my family.
~Spent New Years with my best friend and her husband!
~Had some fantastic snow storms and cozy days at home with our amazing wood-burning stove.
~Passed the 10 year mark of the OSU Plane Crash. We weren't together when it happened, but we both share a pain and loss from it. This year was especially emotional, for whatever reason.
~Celebrated Ken's 36th birthday
~Continued our tradition of having cajun pasta and homemade cheesecake for Valentine's Day. This year was also a learning experience. Another compromise with a holiday that one of us thinks is kinda dumb and the other thinking it should be a LITTLE bit of a big deal. I don't need a present, but I do want a card. Even though he didn't get me one, he did quickly make me one when he realized it hurt my feelings. I have to say, its my most favorite card I've gotten! :)
~We took TWO different weekend trips to Ft. Worth. LOVE that place!
~Our garden grew this year! We planted lots of peppers, corn, asparagus, tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, rosemary and basil. This was also my first year to have some potted plants. They are still alive and beautiful! I thought the draught got one of them, but it came back and is blooming again now that we've had some rain and the heat has gone away.
~We still love family walks around the property. I love that Ruger takes off and runs halfway before he turns to make sure we're coming. As if, by not looking before then means we have to follow. If he's halfway through the walk then its too late for us to tell him that he can't go. haha!
~We bought a used new-to-us car because we are travelling so much. It made me feel old to have a 4-door business car. I still think we're too young to have this car! ;)
~Almost once a week, we end up sleeping on the couches. Falling asleep while we watch TV. Ruger ends up snuggling up to one of us, making whichever couch (person) he picks to sleep with, very crowded!!!
~Lots of trips to Tulsa for work.
~Spur of the moment road trip!!!! We went to Hennessey, Okeene, Canton, Watonga and Roman Nose State Park, Kingfisher, and Guthrie. It was a super fun day!!!
~Summer was HOT! Starting June 1st, we had 50+ days of 100+ degree weather. It was soooo stinkin' hot!!! We had to get real creative to find things to do b/c it was too hot to work or even just BE outside. We worked on the house quite a bit, I had craft projects, went out to dinner at least 2 times a week, played volleyball with the college ministry at church. We tried to walk the lake after it got dark, but at 10pm it was still 98 degrees!
~Weekend vacation to Eureka Springs. :) LOVED being on the lake and just having a quiet weekend!
~We got to keep sweet Miss Finley!
~Celebrated my 33rd birthday!
~Leaving a church home that we've known for years and venturing out to find a new place to call "home".
~I said above that we built some relationships this year, but we've had to let some go as well.
~Celebrated Amy and JK getting married.
~Enjoying another season of Cowboy Football!!!!
~AND...4 days before our anniversary, we closed on my house!!!!! YAY!!! Huge blessing!

I love my sweet husband. He is incredible! I love his character and his love for the Lord. I love how much he loves me...sometimes I have to remind myself that we've only known each other for 3 years. I love how much we talk. I love that he's my best friend. I love how much we laugh together. I love that we like to do pretty much everything together...but sometimes we both still need some time alone. I love that he laughs at and tolerates my silly girl shows (ally mcbeal, gilmore girls, so you think you can dance and project runway); that we like the same type of TV (law and order: svu, hawaii 5-0, unforgettable, covert affairs, blue bloods, southland, rookie blue, college football and nfl); and that I can actually be entertained by shows he watches (river monsters, gold rush alaska, alaska state troopers, sons of guns, and pretty much anything on national geographic). Oh, and I just have to add (and he would probably deny) that he actually enjoys Guillana and Bill (LOVE! It always stirs up good conversation about what we would do differently or the same if certain things happen in our marraige). :) I love that we take leisure walks as a family. I love that we can workout together. I love that he picks up where I leave off. I love that he makes our house a home and is always making sure its well taken care of. I love that he views our marraige as us being a team...we make decisions together, he comes to me first no matter what, and he respects and wants my opinion. I love that we walk through life together. I love that he is perfect for me and I am perfect for him. Looking forward to year 3...and as many as God allows "til death do us part".

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