10 and Counting

Our 10 year anniversary is tomorrow!! I can hardly believe it. It’s so hard to believe that we'll be passing the 10 mile marker already. I’ve had the best husband (at least in my opinion—I realize that you're thinking yours is the best and that's okay) to spend the time with. I thought about what to post since this is kind of a momentous day. In the end, I just decided to post pictures from the day and 1 from every year since. I think it’s fun to see the years added to people and how they have changed.

In this picture, I'm 15 an Kai is 18. No, we weren't dating yet, but we did flirt the entire summer and after the next summer of working together we would start dating.

This was after we had been dating almost a year. Taken at Pictured Rocks, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Our wedding day--just making sure you were aware of that little detail ;-)

My dad giving me away

The wedding party

Finally Mr. and Mrs.

Year 0: Seattle

On our honeymoon. Taken from the top of the Seattle Space Needle. We spent most of the week in Victoria, Vancouver, British Columbia which was gorgeous, but we spent some time here too.

Year 1--in Florence, Italy

Kai planned the entire trip from home in Michigan, by planning our route, calling each place and making reservations, crossing our fingers that they saved the reservations until we arrived, and battling language barriers over the phone (French, Italian, and Swiss languages). Internet travel was not widely used yet. This was our first big solo adventure outside the U.S. It was a little scary at first, but obviously it started something in us.

Year 2: Michigan and the beautiful fall colors

Year 3: En route to Thailand to train for teaching in Korea.

One of the other teachers took this picture when we weren't aware and if you look closely, we are praying because we're getting ready to get on the next plane. Though Kai loves to fly, and we've been all over the globe in the last 10 years, I have a huge fear of flying, so we/I do this before, during, during, during, and after every flight to help ease my nerves a little. This was after 24 hours of traveling already with about 8 more ahead of us. We were so exhausted. We actually got bumped to business class on this flight (think: seats recline flat) and I was so tired, I slept the entire way and didn't even get to enjoy it!

Year 4: Christmas Underwear Tradition

Kai's family has a tradition of giving a pair of nice, new underwear each year at Christmas and as the tradition goes, you have to wear it on your head. It's such a fun tradition and we have several years of pictures like this. We will be sure to continue this one in our own house. I'm sporting a pair of Victoria's Secret panties and Kai is in Tommy Hilfiger boxers.

Year 5: Toronto, Canada

This was probably our poorest year ever! We were living in Michigan as Kai was taking a few classes needed for dental school. We had just purchased a house and were living on my income as a first year teacher while paying for Kai's school tuition and books, dental school applications, and acceptance fees from my income so we could avoid loans. We saved and saved and saved for this anniversary trip and went somewhere within driving distance. It was a great trip and a great year.

Year 6: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Just before dental school started, we took a last minute trip to try and hold us over for 4 years since we were sure we wouldn't be able to afford traveling as poor students. We lived it up and did everything--four wheeling, zip lining, swimming with dolphins, taking a mini cruise to an all inclusive island, and enjoying the local flavor. Little did we know we were just getting started again.

Year 7: 9 Peaks Challenge

Never in my life have I been this close to death. We were hiking 26 miles in 1 day and bagging 9 peaks. Halfway through the adventure (at the 5th peak), we got caught on the top of a mountain in a raging hail and lightning storm that literally came from nowhere. We weren't prepared for it in the least (as you can tell from our clothes--that was all we had). We seriously almost froze to death and were literally dodging lightning strikes to get back off the mountain. Trees around us were getting zapped and as you can imagine, we were in constant prayer. Learned a few things on that adventure!

Year 8: San Fransisco

We had just found out we were expecting Kasen and made a trip to San Fransisco. This was actually taken about 2 months before our 8 year anniversary, but I included it in year 8 since most of year 8 revolved around getting ready for Kasen's arrival. It was one of the most memorable and fun trips we've had because no one knew we were pregnant yet and it was so fun to have such an exciting secret. We were literally bubbling the entire trip.

Year 9: San Fransisco (again)

Kasen was growing. I could have included pictures from Madagascar or graduation, or... but I figured you've seen all those before, so I would include one that I don't think I've posted. I love this one because I have a fascination with the talent of these street artists. Such a fun time.

Year 10: ???

I’m sure I could try to overinflate and paint our life to be all roses and fairy tales, but I won’t, because it’s not perfect. Honestly though, I consider our life even with the tough times to be worth every second. I wouldn’t change a thing. (Okay, well maybe I would have scraped every cent together and invested it all in the stock market and taken it out just before the big crash, but since I can’t predict the future…) But seriously, at the end of the day, when the errands are done, the house is clean, Kai's come home from a day at the office, my patience has been tried by our little angel, and we have tucked him for the night, I can say that I am truly happy.

10 years ago I gave Kai a ring inscribed with, “Love never fails” taken from one of my favorite Biblical passages in 1^st Corinthians describing love. I love (no pun intended) the description of love found there and realize that I fall so ridiculously short of that mark, but the bottom line is that I don’t give up, and hope that one day it’s more like the description. I hope that 40 years from now, if I am still blogging ;-) , I will have an even better post telling the memorable story of a love that has lasted through the years.