Eleven years ago today...

Eleven years ago today, my DH (dear husband) and I were joined in holy matrimony at the church of Christ at White Station in Memphis, TN. It was a gorgeous day - clear and crisp, not too cold (not cold enough unfortunately - I had to debate thermostat settings in the auditorium with my mother-in-law-to-be, I was hot, she was cold - the bride always wins). I felt I was the luckiest woman in the world, and still do.

Eleven years later, I can't believe where life has taken us. Here are some highlights (& low points) in our marriage.

1. The birth of Julia Rose (2000). During the c-section, TE looked over the drape to watch the surgical progress. The OB told him he didn't have to look at that part, but TE wanted to see surgery. When asked what he thought, he said the procedure looked like "skinning a deer." The look on his face when he came back from the NICU and said, "She's great, she's beautiful."

2. The loss of Hayden Adam, Julia Rose's twin (2000). Sitting with TE in the recovery room after the c-section, holding our stillborn son, was one of the most poignant memories in my life. He looked like his daddy.

3. The birth and illness of Stella Caroline (2002). TE was old hat at surgery the 2nd time. Sitting next to her in the NICU at Children's, praying for her healing, rejoicing at seeing her open her eyes again, and her complete healing.

4. The illness and death of Jackson Thayne (2002). Sitting together in the NICU at Children's, holding our son as he died, begging God to heal him. TE refused to leave his side, even for the shepherds from Downtown to pray with us. He looked like his daddy and big sister Julia Rose.

5. Our many trips hiking and camping in CO. My personal favorite was a car-camping trip that ended up with our sleeping under a tarp. The tent didn't make it into the car. It rained. We had the dog. On a leash. Around TE's leg.

6. My other favorite camping trip. Rampart Range Road, drunk rednecks (yes, they live in CO too) with loud music. Us huddled in our tent with my big mouth, which I used to ask them, not politely, to turn down the music. We had to leave before they killed us.

7. The loss of our fathers. Both of our fathers have passed on since our marriage. Heart disease (mine) and lung cancer (his).

8. Cutting down our Christmas trees in Colorado. This is legal and fun.

9. Gardening - corn, peas, tomatoes, beans, eggplants, cucumbers, pumpkins, gourds, lettuce, spinach, basil, rosemary, parsley, chive, squash - we've tried it all, just about. Zucchini so big it had to be composted with a machete.

10. Loving and working with each other through grad schools, crazy work schedules, uncertainty about jobs, moving across the country twice, infertility, children, crazy families, dogs, cats, painting and many other numerous home projects, 2 houses, illness, death, surgeries, etc.

And to think it all started when Bud Lambert presented us to the audience as "Mr. & Mrs" and I fell down the steps. Who knew?