11 Years and Counting...

Today, Dan and I are celebrating our 11th anniversary. It is kind of hard to fathom the years that have gone by and the children that we've been blessed with.

I find myself full of joy and love this day. I think of the man I married and am overwhelmed by the goodness of God for giving me such a man! I think of my children...those I've already gotten to know and the one I am still waiting to meet and again thank God for giving us so many wonderful blessings to fill our home with joy and laughter. He surely has been good to us.

I am looking forward to the years to come, to see what it is the Lord has planned for us. We have had ups and downs and joys and sorrows(thankfully few of these) and through it all we've stayed close and our marriage has not faltered. The Lord has strengthened us through all and today I look at a man whom I still love and love more than I did the day I married him:-)

Unlike last year, we will be staying at home tonight, just enjoying some time together and a movie. We will be watching a movie called Bella that was recommended by a friend and savoring some yummy, raspberry creme brulee...yum! I love simple dates and plans and this will be a perfect way to celebrate our anniversary!

May you all have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Sommer

A Very Quick Get-Away

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that sent their kind words to us for our anniversary:-) We had a lovely time. As a gift, my parents paid for a night away at a lovely Bed & Breakfast over on the coast and kept all three kids(don't think they'll be doing that again soon ;-p)...wow! My in-laws gave us a little spending money...awesome!

When we arrived, the owner showed us around and informed us that, because of a little mistake on his part, we had an upgrade! We got to have a fireplace..yippee!!!!




I LOVED our room! So nice...I enjoyed a pretty view from the window seat and the fire was a great treat. We enjoyed dinner at a little Japanese spot nearby and enjoyed the dessert and coffee provided at the B&B.

We checked out mid-morning and headed over to walk on the beach for a bit. I'm really more of a country/mountain girl...but, the ocean is still an awesome thing to behold!

Well, it was only one night with my love...but it was uninterrupted and very precious to me. We headed back to get the kids( an especially very sad Liam) and then home. Liam was happy to see me...he still nurses and has never been away overnight. I missed him too...but it was worth the brief separation.

I came home with a cold, but I will cherish this little time I had to spend with the love of my life. Perhaps it wont take as long to do this again...

Blessings,

Sommer

10 Years of Blessings

Today, my husband and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage! It hardly seems possible that we've been married so long, that we have 3 children and we potentially have many more years to come and more children to bare.

I never thought that I would find such a man as Dan is. Surely my choices before me were limited at the time and perhaps I didn't really know what I wanted or really, what I needed. Praise God, He is sovereign! He knew my needs and the true desires of my heart! Today, I can look back and see God working in my life and guiding my path.

Here is a picture of Dan and I on our wedding day...the pictures are a little crooked, sorry:-)



We look so young. So happy. And we still are very happy:-) There have been a few bumps in our road, but they've all been softened by the love we have and even more so by the grace of God. I can't imagine spending these first 10 years with anyone else and I look forward to the next 10, 20, 30....



This was our beautiful wedding cake. It was yummy too:-) Dan's mom made this for us. Actually alot of the things we enjoyed on our wedding day were gifts or heirlooms from friends and family. My wedding dress was one my Grandma found(just had to be let out for my figure), my veil was hand made by my sister in law, the cake from my mother in law and the food was provided by an Aunt and Uncle. I wore a handkerchief that each bride in my Mom's family had wore(even my Grandma I think) on their wedding day. Very special.

Many memories..some are hazy, others will forever be in my heart!

Happy Anniversary Darling!

Thoughts of Love

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."~Ephesians 5:22

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it"~Ephesians 5:25

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged"~Colossians 3:18-21

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do hime good and not evil all the days of her life."~Proverbs 31:10-12

As I have gone through my day today, I have been thinking on some of these verses and what love looks like in a marriage. Of course today is a perfect day to be thinking of these things...being that it is Valentine's Day. We don't really do a whole lot on this day, but we try to remember to acknowledge each other and set aside a little bit of specialness to the day.

If you ever watched a Disney cartoon movie or even some typical Hollywood movies...you find that love happens rather quickly and often they've only just met! I find this(now that I have children and I am an adult)ridiculous! Sure, we often feel butterflies and lightening bolts...but most of us did not fall in love over night and surely there have been times for all of us that haven't felt like there were butterflies. Enter the "world's" suggestion to divorce or that something is wrong. Well, I find this just silly. Love...marriage takes work and commitment. We can't expect it to just move forward when all we are looking for is the flip-flop in our stomach we felt on the first date. No, it takes real honest to goodness effort! And respect and submission, teamwork, patience....the list could go on.

I find somedays that it is very hard to be a submissive wife. I want it my way and I don't always hide that. I had one of those days recently and I'm rather ashamed of it. I felt he did something wrong to me...so I was not so nice back. Childish really! I find that just being the wife God has commanded me to be is the best way I can show that I love my husband. Doing those things that make our home pleasant and make him happy...those are ways I can show my husband everyday that I care about him. As much as I did when we first married.

I don't think I always show Dan that I love him in how I behave and I am sorry that I don't. I really desire to be better about this. I do love him and I thank God daily for the man He placed in my life. He is my dear friend and love, a companion that most dream they had...I have him and only because God was gracious enough to give me such a man!

I purpose to try to live up to the above verses. I want Dan to know that I love him every day in all that I do...not just what I say.

Happy Valentine's Day Sweetie!

And Happy Valentine's Day to all my dear friends:-)

Blessings,
Sommer