7 Years

7 years ago today, my dad was walking me down the aisle (making me giggle- "B.A."-- right, Dad??!)  toward the man I love who was staring into my eyes, beaming.  The past 7 years have been full of blessings... Here are some of the highlights over our married years... 

August 31, 2002.

We were married- it was my dream wedding.  Every. Single. Part.  I still remember the smell of the red roses and star gazer lilies.  I remember Richey's eyes and grin.  I remember feeling SO in love- like I was floating.  I remember how fast it went.  I remember it became a blur by the end of the reception.  I remember it being one of the best days of my life.  I want to do it again!  (To the same man, of course!).

(This is where I'd like to insert a wedding pic, but I can't get my scanner to work with me!)

Year 1. 02 03

We moved into our first apartment and loved it- all 800 square feet!  We often laughed about how we felt like we were 'playing house'- well except that I didn't know how to make a pot of coffee... or cook really... We learned each other's quirks, got into little arguments as we adjusted to living together (like are potatoes kept in the fridge or not in the fridge? :) ), and that was the beginning of all our inside jokes- he always makes me laugh!  Richey got his "play car" he was fixing up stolen out of the apt parking lot... sad day.  Good thing he had his company truck. We moved shortly after!   We found IBC and made it our church home.  We celebrated our 1 year anniversary on a cruise and had a blast!  (I think that was when an older couple asked us if our parents knew we were there... we looked like babies! ha!)

Year 2. 03 04

We moved into another apt about 30 minutes from the first in a different city.  I continued to go to school and work a bit while Richey worked downtown with his family.  This was the year we spontaneously took a trip to Costa Rica for a weekend!  Ohhhh to be young and spontaneous again- ha ha!  AND I got a new car- Richey spoils me.

Year 3. 04 05

This year I did my student teaching and discovered both the joys and hardships of teaching!  One day while student teaching, I got called to the office over the classroom intercom because I had a phone call???  I was so confused- and worried!  It was Richey- he had just won a trip to Chicago to see the Third Day/ Toby Mac concert and meet Toby Mac from a radio station!!  He called because the trip was scheduled the day I was supposed to take my teacher certification test so he wanted to make sure we could go... I rescheduled the test!  It was a great trip!   I graduated college in May, we bought our first home in July, and I got my very first "real job" as a 2nd grade teacher.  Busy year!  

Year 4.  05 06

Our house was becoming our home- we painted, decorated, and rejoiced in all the space!  (I remember the day we closed on it, we were so excited, we picked up Chinese food, went straight to the house and ate a picnic on the floor of the living room- we were giddy!)  I survived my 1st year of teaching with a lot of support from my sweet hubby.   We celebrated our 4th anniversary with Leah and Ben with a trip to Puerto Vallarta.  It was one of my fav trips of all time!

Year 5.  06 07

I changed to teaching 4th grade this year and Richey began grad school for his MBA.  In the fall, we decided that we were ready to start our family.  We were thrilled!  But... God had different plans for us.  After several months, I felt that something wasn't right and went to the dr.  We learned that I have PCOS and began Clomid.  We weren't having much luck with it.  We were on our knees a lot asking our Lord for a miracle.  We decided for the time being, we needed a puppy!  (Good baby practice!)  That summer, we got our toy poodle, Cali!  She was a great distraction and brought us lots of joy (still does).   We went on a romantic getaway to Riviera Maya- full of sunshine, time with my guy, tropical drinks, and great food- can't think of anything better!

Year 6.  07 08

This was a BIG year for us.  The fertility treatments continued as well as our prayers.  After a year and a half of heartache, fervent prayer, and many treatments, we moved forward with IVF in February and found out March 7 WE WERE PREGNANT (and my numbers from my blood test were HIGH!).  Found out March 8 that my levels went from 700 something to 17oo something... twins were expected!  April 1 we saw our babies for the first time!!!  At 16 weeks, we found out we were having 2 girls- Reese Abigail and Riley Grace.  Richey was convinced that we were going to have 1 boy an 1 girl (would have been Chase Earl (family name) so his initials would be CEO- ha ha AND Abigail Grace :) ).  BUT he was super excited about TWO girls and now he could not imagine life without girls girls and more girls in his house!  We celebrated our 6th anniversary at the Gaylord with a nice dinner- I was SO swollen, having contractions, and was quite miserable, but it was a delicious meal and precious time with my hubby.  I remember us talking about how we wouldn't have too many more date nights before the girls came (due date- Nov 12 - 40 weeks, but we expected them in Oct).

Year 7. 08 09  

4 days after our anniversary dinner, Reese and Riley surprised us at 30 weeks and 1 day-- they came into this world.  Seeing my hubby with our daughters has made me fall deeper in love with him.  This past year has changed our lives- for the better.  We are a family of 4 (+ Cali).  We eat in on Friday nights, we put our babies to bed at 7:00, so we hang out here lots, we love every second of being with each other and our miracle babies.  I'm so thankful for the last 7 years.  God is so good to me.  

Happy Anniversary, Richey!  I love you so much!