3 Years

Three years ago right now, Jay & I had just gotten married. It was such a great day - beautiful weather, with just a few light rain showers that gave way to a sunny and warm day. We were surrounded by family and friends who helped make the day the best day for us!

We can't believe how quickly the time has passed but we are trying to enjoy every moment as much as we can...

While we have been married for just 3 years, we have been together for about 7 1/2 years (and known each other since a few years before that). It still amazes me today how we ended up together and I believe it goes to show that there is a plan for all of us to lead us to exactly where we are today. I'm not nececssarily a believer in the whole "star crossed lovers" concept, but I do think we make choices and are guided in a direction to make choices that lead us to certain people in our lives.

Our story probably isn't the most romantic and how we ended up together isn't one without some interesting twists and turns in each of our lives. But it is our story - and I wouldn't change a thing.

One song's lyrics that sum things up pretty well (in my opinion) is Rascal Flatts song "The Broken Road."

I set out on a narrow way many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

[Chorus:]

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through

I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there you understand

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

[Chorus]

Now I'm just rolling home

Into my lover's arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

We feel very fortunate and blessed to have the life with each other that we do today. And our families and friends that support us are a big part of that.

OK - enough with the mushy love stuff! :)

Have a great rest of the week and weekend!! Here's to the next 3 years, 30 years...and beyond!

Progress!

Yesterday brought more progress in the hardwood flooring installation at the house.

I had to add a couple pictures of what my contribution was yesterday afternoon. I helped Jay install the last 4 rows in these two pictures. Ran had also come over in the morning to help Jay.

After I left, the real progress was made by Jay, Jake, Dan & Greg! Seriously, these guys are awesome...and a little crazy, but in a good way!

Here's where they got us as of 10:00pm last night (they stayed a couple more hours after I left):

They will finish what they can this afternoon/evening, which will probably consist of part of the long hallway and into the master bedroom. We ended up with quite a few "bad" cartons of wood flooring, with cracking in the coating. So, we have to wait until next week Wednesday to get the replacement cartons. We plan on finishing up the hallway, entry and master bedroom late next week & into the weekend.

In other news...today not only marks Val & Chris's 10th wedding anniversary, but it is also the one-year anniversary of us starting our blog. One year, 77 posts! :) A lot has happened and changed in the past year and we look forward to what the next year brings!

My parents fly in from their trip to Hawaii this morning. Then, they get to enjoy us and the beagles living in their house for the next 3-4 weeks - lucky them!!

Tomorrow we will head to GU for Mike & Sandy's 40th wedding anniversary party! Can't wait - it should be a great time! :)

Have a great weekend everyone! TGIF!

Successful Party

Well we managed to pull of Mom & Dad's 40th anniversary party this past Saturday (the actual anniversary date was August 24th) and I have to say it went really well. I have posted some pictures from the party that we got on our camera but didn't get a lot of them.

It was fun to plan and do something for them. I know they appreciated it and enjoyed it. It was also great to get to see and talk to everyone who could make it!

When you think of 40 years, it's pretty amazing. They are an example of love and commitment to each other and to their family. I can only hope the same for Jay & me over the years.

Here is the happy couple:

The banner & some of the food.
The cake - with a picture of the couple on their wedding day...
The photo board that my mom prepared for the party:
Just a picture of some people as the party was getting started:

Again, it was really fun and I'm so happy we were all around to make it happen! We did get a lot of help with food, decorating and planning which we appreciate!

Now, next month we have the chance to celebrate the same milestone with Sandy & Mike in Glen Ullin! Should be another fun party!

Two Years Later...

Two years ago today Jay & I got married...wow has the time flown by! It was a beautiful day two years ago...with just a little rain shower while we were in the church taking pictures...with the clouds breaking up and the sun shining the rest of the day and evening...Today, the temperature got to around 70 degrees and the horrible wind we have had so frequently lately gave us all a break today, with barely a breeze blowing...

Some things have changed quite a bit from then and some things are still the same (meaning, we still live in our "camper" as my Grandma Gerhardt calls our trailer)...

What's happened over the last two years...

We went from having one beagle - the one and only Jerz (a.k.a. "Big Mama")....

To having TWO beagles - with the addition of our little Bailey (a.k.a. "Little Bails"/"Little Squirt"/"Little Tank") to our family in October 2006...

We began paying our lot in December 2006....

We went on our honeymoon in Jamaica in January 2007...and LOVED it...

I passed the ND Bar Exam in February 2007..and was sworn in at the ND Supreme Court in May 2007...

Jay turned 30 and we had a great time celebrating it out at Lake Tschida with Jay's family and some friends...

We paid off our lot by January 1 of this year...

And began the process of getting our future home built in January as well...

I turned 30 in February and celebrated with family and friends at the bowling alley...

And in between all of that we have spent many other good times with family and friends and each other over the last couple of years...holidays, birthday parties, road races, softball games and tournaments, some mini vacations, some evenings just hanging out, grilling and playing lawn games, or watching games or movies, going to weddings, going to sporting events...and doing many other things...Through all of that, some of our favorite times are the evenings we spend "laying low" and just watching shows we have DVR'd or watching movies together, ordering pizza and just vegging out. (Which we are doing tonight, coincidentally).

It's been a good two years...not to say there haven't been ups and downs...some challenges along the way. But I wouldn't trade a second of it for anything!

We know that the years we have ahead of us together will bring many more great things...and some more challenges...but while we do look forward we also can look at each other in the present and know that our life together is good...and that we are very blessed!

Two years down...and, God willing - many, many more to go!

Have a great week everyone!

PS - Thanks to Payton & Sydney for taking us out on their boat on Sunday!