Twenty-seven years ago....

Our first picture together
on our way up to Estes Park, CO
July 1985

....Brian and I had our first "official" date.

We went to the same high school. Although he was several grades ahead of me, I knew who he was since he was on the basketball team and I was in the prep band. I even had drivers education class with his little sister!

We truly met when his best friend invited him and another friend to go on our church's youth group trip to Denver. I thought it would be lame, so I refused to go despite my pastor's questioning. I finally relented when someone else backed out and the spot was already paid for by the women of the church.

I clearly remember walking around the corner of the church and seeing Brian standing there with his two friends. Love at first sight? Nah. But, it was definitely lust at first sight!

There were meetings for several weeks before the trip. By the time we left for the trip, we were basically a couple. But, it wasn't until we got back that he formally asked me out on our first date. Pizza and miniature golf!

Less than five years later, we got married and here we are 27 years after that first date! How can we be THAT old????

* Want to read more about our wedding day? Just read my March 10th post about our anniversary!

Brian's Birthday!

It's Brian's birthday! If you know numbers in sign language, then you'll know how old he is today from this picture!

How old is Brian????

Since his birthday fell on a week day (which meant he was at work all day and Ashley worked tonight until 9:30), we decided to do some celebrating yesterday.

We ran a few errands and did some shopping. Brian bought some golf balls and new shorts to wear while golfing with a gift card from his father. We also went shopping for a new iPad for his birthday... a real splurge for him!



Hmmm.... Which one will help me lower my score?

Then, we had a yummy dinner with fantastic service at one of his favorite places.

Bring on the fried oysters!

While we were at dinner, two of Ashley's friends (one was "J" from today's "Making a Difference") stopped by and left cupcakes on our front porch for Brian. Wasn't that sweet?


Just in case you can't read the blue icing, it says "Happy birthday :)"

He was too busy "playing" with his new iPad that he completely lost track of time last night.

Ashley and Brian using an app to view the constellations over our house.

So, we had cake and opened up cards tonight!


Even our dog, Cooper, got a taste
of the yummy birthday cake!

Yum! Yum! Brielle can't wait to eat some cake!

Happy birthday to my husband! We've spent 25 of your last 26 birthdays together and I can't wait to celebrate another 25 or 50 more!  Love you!!  :)



Remembering Prom

It’s prom season! Oh, I remember mine well, as I am sure most people do. However, for some reason, I remember the date was May 10, 1986 – 26 ago today. Brian and I had been dating for about 10 months. Four years later, we were married.

I have watched Ashley go to three proms and all of the excitement that goes with prom – shopping for the “perfect” dress and jewelry, getting nails and hair done, taking endless pictures, and waiting up late to hear all about the evening by a very, tired girl.

Ashley Prom 2009

Ashley Prom 2010

Ashley Prom 2011

As I reminisced today about my prom and Ashley’s proms, I was saddened to realize that Brielle will never go to prom.

Daddy Daughter Dance 2010

Spring Dance 2010

Brielle loves to dance. She has been to other dances – Daddy Daughter dances and a Spring Dance just for special needs kids. But, prom is a unique experience, one Brielle will never have.

Even if we did not homeschool, I wonder if Brielle would go to prom. It is difficult to imagine who would ask her and how she would manage without me being there to help her. Our local district has a separate prom kids with special needs can attend. That does not mean they are “excluded” from the traditional prom. It’s just a different outlet for them. If we did not homeschool, I wonder if Brielle would have gone to that prom.

My Prom (with Brian)
May 10, 1986

Prom is one of the few casualties of homeschooling. I know that there is a prom for local homeschoolers, but how would she fit it? Today, I am just feeling a little melancholy thinking about the prom Brielle will never go to as I remember mine.

Wedding Day Blues

Our Wedding Day - March 10, 1990

Our 22nd Anniversary - Today

It is hard to believe it has been 22 years since our wedding. A lot has changed. We have changed. A little grayer. A little heavier. A little older. A lot smarter.

I feel so lucky to have met a wonderful person 27 years ago. So lucky that he wanted to marry me. So blessed to have our wonderful life together despite everything.

We celebrated last night by going out for a few drinks and enjoying a nice meal together. He sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers today. Their fragrance is filling the house and reminds of the flowers we had on our wedding day.

It was so disappointing that Brian had to leave for Shanghai this morning for a business meeting all week. Ashley had to work today, so it was just me and Brielle for the day. Although Brielle and I stayed busy during the day running errands, I still felt a little down spending the day apart from Brian.

An anniversary is a time for remembering and for being together. At least if we couldn't be together, I spent some time remembering. I looked at our wedding album, as I always try to do on our anniversary. Who were those young people? Did they ever wonder what their lives would be like 22 years later? I can't imagine they thought it would be like this. In some ways, it is even better than those young people could have imagined.

Love you, Brian!