Six Years

Six years ago, RoadTripDaddy and I got married.  It was a crazy weekend full of love, family and friends.

I woke up early on our wedding day.  Very early.  I had spent the night at the site of our reception and had three of my bridesmaids with me.  I can't remember if I woke Lisa up or if she woke up from hearing me get up.  We decided to head to the hotel lobby so we didn't wake up my other bridesmaids.  We walked out of the room without leaving a note and without either of us grabbing our cell phones.

We chatted in the lobby as the hotel remained quiet in the early hours.  I attempted to get into the room our reception was going to be held in, but quickly realized the door was locked.  On the way out to our rehearsal the night before, I had looked into the room as the staff had started to set it up.  It seemed like the room was set up off (90 degrees off to be exact).  After I realized I wasn't going to be able to get in, I checked in at the front desk to see when the staff and event manager would be in to work on the room again.  Ignoring the fact that it was 5:30 am, I wanted to make sure the room was fixed before our reception that night.  Thankfully within about 30 minutes, I was able to talk to the event manager.  While she didn't believe me at first, once we both reviewed the set up plans on paper, she realized the error and promised it would be fixed by that evening.

With that checked off my list, Lisa and I then relaxed back in the lobby chairs and talked for a while longer.  My parents then walked in with some of our centerpieces.  We decided to help out and jumped in the car to head back to my parents to bring the remaining centerpieces.  At this point, it probably would have been a good idea to get my phone, call our room, or at least leave a note with the front desk to let my friends know that I hadn't run off.

When Lisa and I finally strolled back in the room just after 7:30 am, my two friends looked slightly panicked.  Unbeknownst to me, my groom-to-be had ordered a special breakfast for me and had his younger brother deliver it to my room.  My friends said something like I was still asleep or in the bathroom or something along those lines, accepted the breakfast, and ushered my soon-to-be brother-in-law on his way.  Somehow I managed not to run into him on my trip back to the room, even though I had missed him by roughly a minute.

As the day carried on and the 17 year cicadas sang a chorus loud enough you could hear it in the church, there were thousands of smiles, an outpouring of love and a pretty fabulous time if you ask me.

This morning at breakfast, RoadTripDaddy and I told Sweet Pea about our wedding.  We showed her our wedding album and talked about what a great day we had.  When Monkey finally made it out of bed, we told him about how special today was to our family.  Today we celebrated 6 years of marriage, 9+ years together, 2 beautiful children, friends who keep us smiling and family who keep us grounded. Thank you to everyone who was part of day six years ago and to everyone who has come through our lives in the time we have been together.

And to RoadTripDaddy...I love you more today than yesterday.  Happy Anniversary!

RoadTripMommy

What a difference a decade makes...

10 Years ago, I went to bed probably a couple hours from now as a college graduate.  It was the last night I spent living with my very best friends at the time.  It was a night full of promise and hope.  The world was our oyster, of course.  I was engaged, starting a full time job soon, and one week from my birthday.  My mother's day present to my mom that year was my graduation.  Graduation on Mother's Day was such a wonderful gift.  While my mom hadn't graduated from college (you would never know this), I could see the pride in her eyes after the ceremony.  My parents took pictures of me and my friends in our cap and gowns.  We were picture perfect.

10 Years ago, I woke up on May 11, 2003 and packed the remains of my college life into my parents car (and a truck I'm sure).  I hugged my very best friends goodbye and told my fiance I would see him soon.  I cried leaving my home for the last four years.  I cried leaving my very best friends.  But still...the world was our oyster, of course.  I thought about all the wonderful things coming up in my life.  A new job, wedding planning, and the official start of my life as a college graduate.

A little over one month later, I spent Father's Day crying.  My wedding was called off.  My heart was broken.  I called my parents and begged them to come get me.  I was visiting my fiance's father in the hospital and I wasn't sure I could drive home.  I hugged the women who I felt were part of my family, his mother and two sisters and cried.  I cried at the loss of my love.  I cried at the loss of what was supposed to be part of my new family.  My parents were there faster than I could have imagined.  I packed what was left of me into the car and cried the whole way home.

Tonight I go to bed married to the love of my life.  Our two little loves peacefully sleeping in their beds. My in laws are asleep in our house as well.  Half of my family is here with me tonight.  I am happier than I could have imagined 10 years ago.  While our life is not picture perfect, the world is a wonderful place filled with Sweet Pea and Monkey's laughter.  Instead of seeing the world as my oyster, I look in their eyes and am filled with hope.  The world is at their feet.

Tomorrow In a few hours, I will wake up and get ready to celebrate Monkey's birthday.  In less than a week, he will be 3 years old.  We will spend the day preparing for the party, from picking up the cake to wrapping that last present.  We will laugh and ticke and just enjoy our family.  We will see our families and some of our very best friends at the party and marvel over how big the kids are, how happy the little things make them, and have a fabulous time just being all together.  Most likely at the end of the day, I will cry; although the tears will not be of sadness or loss.  My tears on birthdays are always due to the amount of love I have in my heart.  The love that we receive from our friends and family.  The love of us.  We have the world at our feet.  It's our oyster, of course.