6 Years

6 Years.

On April 28th we celebrated 6 years of marraige.

It was our "first" official marraige in NC

We were married after just knowing each other just 8 months.

I flew down when I lived in Ohio to NC on a Friday morning..

we were married by the afternoon...

We didnt tell ANYONE what we were doing, or what we had done for a long time.

Reactions were mixed.
Some people were happy, some people im sure confused, some were very questionning...

But we didnt care. We knew in our hearts it was what we both wanted.

And looking back everyday since then, even now 6 years later.

It was one of the best days of our lives.

I only wish I could re-live it over again.

It was just US.

No family, no friends.

Just us, and a piece of paper that said we were now officially married.

It was a justice of the peace ceremony in Jacksonville, NC.

Mathew left for Iraq 6 months later for 13 months.

So this weekend the in-laws were in town.

We had an amazing dinner at home this year.

We made crablegs, fish, and steak... so so delish!

Then we went on a date!

We both agreed not to buy gifts..but we each got each other mushy cards.. which I loved.

And it was so nice to get away for a few drinks.

We headed a few miles away, and had a few glasses of wine and martinis... oh how I have missed adult conversation and a few drinks... We could have stayed all night talking and laughing!

Papa and Baka kept sending us pictures of what the kids were doing.

Andrew took a bottle and passed out on Baka's shoulder... and Samantha had a nice long bath and enjoyed playing with her Papa..

It was a perfect weekend and anniversary...and not one day that goes by do we ever forget how special this day is. Some people probably doubted and definately questioned our "secret marraige" ... but 6 years later.. we're still going strong, and I thank God for giving us strength, love, patience, understanding and faith in him to guide us through every day.

My Veteran

I never thought Veteran's Day would hold such a special place in my heart.

But today I guess I was moved to reflect on all my husband and I have been through in just 6 short years...

We met when he was already in the Marines. He was set to deploy to Iraq in 2007...My heart was nervous... getting involved with a military man who was going to be leaving for a whole year and traveling to what we thought was one of the most dangerous places at the time.. the middle east. But we got through...it wasnt easy...

{in Portland, Maine, on January 2, 2007, getting ready to board the long flight to Europe, and eventually ending in Iraq}

He was there for 13 months.. and it was so hard at times for us and our families.

I had moved home for 10 months, and then moved to NC before he came home

{2.3.2008 - homecoming on the airbase in NC}
Probably one of the best days of outr lives...

I can still remember being thr first wife to be able to greet my husband, a raffle I won before he came home..
We moved in together and started our lives together in North Carolina. FINALLY.. after dating for a year, 13 month deployment, we had waited long enough!

We were already married in 2006, but had a celebration with our families in September 2008.
Our wedding was so beautiful!

So many exciting milestones we have shared together..

A Wedding..

A daughter...

{samantha jane. 7.5.09}

And Coming Soon...

A Son...

Veterans Day has made me stop and thank God for everything we have today, and everything we've gone through to get here. During life we can certainly take for granted a lot, and I know Im guilty of it often!

So Happy Veteran's Day to my hubby and my best friend, and all those who serve and have served!

Three Years Ago Today {Iraq Homecoming}

Three Years Ago today.. February 3rd, 2008.

This is where I was. I remember it like it was yesterday. I couldnt sleep ... so I woke up super early, 6:30am. Did my makeup/hair (for about 2 hours) - yea I wasnt nervous or anything, right?ha!, I made the bed, cleaned the condo, and was enjoying the Carolina sunshine warming the bedroom through the french doors.

Mathew was on his way home from a 13 month deployment in Iraq.

I was so nervous...excited, butterfly city! .... I didnt get dressed till I was ready to walk out the door because I was sweating so bad! ...

I took a nice drive along the beach towards the Air Base knowing that on my way home.. he would be in the car... right next to me, and Iraq would finally be a memory.

I arrived on base and met another marine wife, who I hired to take all these beautiful pictures, and it was the best money I ever spent. She did such an awesome job, and I have so many pictures, and 2 CD's full!

I had won the "first kiss" award, which meant that Mathew and I got to "kiss" each other first before ANY of the unit was released.

Apparently this was a BIG DEAL.. so much that I even got interviewed for the local paper, and the marine corps times paper ha!

Knees shaking, biting my lip nervous kinda feeling... plus it was a little cold, but I had to look super cute! He hadnt been home in 13 months!

I had to be "escorted" to the front of the crowd, and wait till mathew was called out of line, then released... All very military like. ha!



We waited and waited... and the person kept announcing over the soundspeaker that they had left Cherry Point and were enroute.. He kept giving us updates, 20 mninutes away, 5, they are at the gate of the base, through the gate.. UGH!!!

Then finally we heard a bunch of busses, and saw them come around the corner..

They all lined up, and he had to be dismissed alone,

so he was called in front by his officer? I cant remember...


and then came running towards me so fast... It was a moment I will never ever forget the rest of my life.

13 months was hard, and military life was not the greatest at times, but homecomings.... they are the BEST!!

This was the beginning of us starting our lives together.. We were already married before Mathew left for Iraq.



And now we would live in our little house by the beach in NC, and we had our church wedding and reception in the Fall of 2008. Great great memories in NC, and also.. just 8 months later, we found out we were pregnant with Samantha!

This day was so memorable, and I am so glad I have a whole CD filled with pictures from the day. It is something that I cherish, and love looking back on from time to time, to remind us of how much we've been through as a married couple and how far we've come together.

We've had quite a busy couple years, married again, had a baby, left the military life and our condo in NC, moved to the North, lived with my mother for 8 months, bought a house, and are settling into life as a family of 3.

{this is the picture that was in the town's newspaper}

So hubby o'mine if you are reading this in your office this morning, I still remember this day like it was yesterday, and it reminds me of how much we went through together, and how much I love you, and would do it all over again for us. I know some days and nights (ha!)arent always easy in a marraige, but if we can get through this memory.. we can get through anything and I couldnt imagine anyone but you by my side through it all.