9 Years

That's right--my hubby and I have been married for exactly 9 years. Where has the time gone? Living in 6 different homes/apartments, going through 5 years of undergraduate and graduate school, living in 2 states and 4 cities, raising 2 children (soon to be 3), traveling to China, Mexico, New York, Indiana, Hawaii 3 times and Lake Powell at least 9 times, going on roughly 387 dates (we packed them in during our "kid-free" years), having at least as many stupid arguments (packing these in during the "kid-rearing" years), owning 6 cars and spending way too many hours on our laptops...

August 1999

September 1999

Yesterday I was reading through my lovely little collection of love notes and letters that Joseph and I have written to each other over the years and thinking that I'd like to share some of his words on this blog for a change. And then I found the perfect source--a letter Joseph wrote to my father in the process of asking for my hand in marriage. Many of you know this story, but when my hubby first asked my dad if he could marry me, my dad was just not okay with it. This had to do with the fact that I was very young (20--yikes!) and had only been dating Joseph for about 5 months. But more than that it was because my sweet dad was oh so protective of me and I was his go to pal for such things we both loved like skiing and water-skiing. My dad just didn't want to lose me and he really let loose on poor, unsuspecting Joseph when he came to talk about marrying me. It threw both of us for a loop but we sure learned a lot about each other from it.

In response to this unsubtle rejection of sorts, Joseph decided to write my dad a letter and address some the concerns he had mentioned in their "talk." I have to admit that whenever I read that letter I fall a little bit more in love with my husband--he was so ready to be patient and humble but at the same time stand strong about his desire to marry me and why, exactly, he wanted to be with me. Here's a bit of what he wrote:

I can't think of a single thing I would wish to do in the future that I wouldn't want to do with a wife at my side. For me that's what marriage is about. If I felt like I had to sacrifice and leave everything I have, I would most likely look for someone else. I ask to marry your daughter because she is everything that I need...
...She is so many wonderful things, and it is very difficult to stand where I stand. To ask for her with little to give in return. Sherm, I promise you that I will love her. I will support her. I will take her to the temple where she will receive the promises of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I will bring her often to visit you, and I will encourage her in her education and the development of all her talents. Even if that consumes all of my time and all of my interests, I will do it, because she is my number one interest...

It makes me smile to think Joseph felt like he had so little to give to me because in reality he has given me everything. I love sharing my life with him and creating this little family of ours together. Wow, I really had no idea how much I lucked out in finding, loving, and marrying Joseph. There is just no other person I would want to build a life with and parent our children with. Plus, more than anyone I know, he has taught me about love--real, solid, true and devoted love. He has such a good nature and kind spirit that I can't help but feel happy and truly joyful when I am with him.

October 1, 1999
I'm glad he's still the same silly boy I married 9 years ago :)

At our wedding breakfast just after we were married

Joseph--my dear, passionate, and moon-eyed love--thank you for choosing me and sticking it out with me these past 9 years. While I love our adventures and crazy travel plans, I also love our more random and ordinary memories: Funny Farm, late nights at Campus Life, Edwin's Tale, little house, teaching our first primary class together, playing casino, road trips to Phoenix, indulging me in my chronic Chili's phase, weeknight movies at the Biltmore, living in the "mansion" and you trying to keep that poor tree alive and killing crickets by the dozen, hot summer nights in the pool, getting drenched during an Arizona monsoon, listening to baby Bentley's heartbeat together for the very first time, spoiling me with the nursery of my dreams just days after Bentley was born, singing "I will love you..." from Moulin Rouge at the top of our lungs, sleeping in until 11:00 am every morning on our first vaca without kids, working on our home together--painting, weeding, staining, organizing, and cleaning, making you read my blog out loud and "helping" me edit it, and watching addicting but awesome shows together like 24, I Shouldn't Be Alive, Flight of the Conchords, and Band of Brothers. I will love you forever babe.

Happy anniversary!