12 Years and Grateful

12 Years ago

Last month Hubby and I celebrated 12 years of marriage.  12 years. Wow. I cannot imagine my life with anyone else and I feel that I have been blessed beyond measure.  I'm not saying that all 12 years have been easy or pleasant or without its challenges. Nor am I saying that they were filled with strife and unpleasantness. It's been 12 years of growing, changing, loving, and moving forward.  Change can be hard. Growing up can be hard, but not without its rewards.  My husband and I were engaged right out of college and married a year later. We have grown together over the last 12 years standing side by side.  I feel that my husband has helped me to become the best person I can be for myself, for him, and for my children. He is my rock and my support. And I try my hardest to be the same for him.

12 Years later

This year my parents surprised us by offering to take all three kids for the night so that we could celebrate our anniversary.  We eagerly took them up on their offer and dropped off the kids before dinner on a Saturday night. We then spent the first hour of our date night celebrating Mass.  Our faith is the bedrock of our relationship and what better way to celebrate 12 years of marriage than by attending Mass?  By the way, it is amazing what you can soak in during the homily when you aren't taking children to the potty or childcare, supplying crayons, answering questions, or reading to the offspring.  I appreciated the time that I was able to sit and listen to the homily, be reminded of where I was sitting just 12 years ago, and appreciating how much I have been blessed by my husband and children.

After Mass Hubby and I went to dinner at a little Thai restaurant just down the street from our house.  It's this little hole in the wall restaurant with amazing food.  I could seriously eat there every single day and be content.  It's a good thing I run!  We talked and enjoyed each other's company.  We talked about the past, the present, and the future.  We talked about our blessings. We talked about the children. We just enjoyed being where we were in that particular moment in time. After dinner Hubby asked if there was anything I wanted to do. We could go to the movies, go rock climbing, play mini golf, go bowling...the possibilities were endless. And then we realized that we were both so stinkin' tired from the work week, being parents, potty-training the 2 year old, vacation bible school, Chinese camp, and trying to prepare for a vacation...and we decided that we just wanted to get in our jammies and watch a movie...at home.  That is true love!  Seriously it is. To appreciate one another's company, to realize our own mortality, and to want to just be. To be married. To snuggle. To love and be loved. To know that you are as appreciated as you appreciate your spouse.  That going home is just as much fun as going out...and maybe even more so because you don't have to drive home!

Taken by our 7 year old on our recent beach vacation

We came home. And as we do every year on our anniversary we danced to our wedding song, "When You Say Nothing At All" by Alison Krauss.  We danced in the kitchen our bodies remembering the steps that we tried so hard to learn for our wedding day. We moved side to side, he twirled me slowly, he dipped me just as he did 12 years ago as Alison sang for the last time, "The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall..."And that is love. To dance in the kitchen with no one else around. To dance in the kitchen that has been the stage for so many family dance parties filled with giggles and laughter.  We danced and as the final strains of our wedding song drifted from the speakers we continued to dance to different songs. Some fast and silly and some slow and tender. All of them perfect because they were with the one I want to be with for the rest of my life. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails... (NIV)

11th Wedding Anniversary

11 Years Later

Last month, Hubby and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary! I can't believe we've been married that long, yet at the same time, it seems only yesterday that I finally had the courage to speak to the cute boy in my Legacy class.

All of the best times in my life have been shared with my husband, and so have some of the most devastating. Yet, through it all, he has been there right by my side. I am blessed.

Last year when we were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary we had an infant, so dreams of a weekend getaway just the two of us wasn't going to happen.  Hubby declared that we will celebrate our decade of marriage on our 11th wedding anniversary. He had grand plans of taking a long weekend and traveling, just the two of us.  The closer we came to our anniversary, the antsier I became because I was worried about childcare.  I thought about splitting up the kids and sending them to different family and friends or trying to send all three of them to one home for the weekend. Then a falling out happened with one of the parties and I just didn't think we could swing it.

Our anniversary gift to one another: A play set for the kids

We thought about shortening the weekend away. Then we thought about doing just a night away. Then it ended up with us buying a play set for the kids and hiring a babysitter so that we could do dinner out, just the two of us.  Our thoughts of going away to Vegas, maybe Florida, to how about New Jersey, to anything only a short distance away, ending up being "Hey, I'm glad you're still mine and I'm still yours, let's do dinner."

In about 4 years, my eldest niece will be considered an adult and I think we'll have to wait until then so that we can have someone stay with our kids for the weekend while we celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary.  Well, I can dream can't I?

The last 11 years have had their ups and downs and through it all we have been blessed with 3 amazing kids and a love that keeps getting stronger.

Happy 11 years, Superman! I'm looking forward to many more with you! Love, Lois xoxo

As I reflect on our marriage, we still put God first and I'm grateful that we have chosen to be of the same mind and having the same love for one another. We are so blessed.

"Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." (Philippians 2:2)


If it's loveAnd we decide that it's forever, no one else could do it betterIf it's loveAnd we're two birds of a feather then the rest is just whatever
And if I'm addicted to loving you and you're addicted to my love tooWe can be them two birds of a feather that flock togetherLove, love, we got to have something to keep us togetherLove, love, that's enough for me (Train--If It's Love)
Read more: TRAIN - IF IT'S LOVE LYRICS http://www.metrolyrics.com/if-its-love-lyrics-train.html#ixzz247HVm8BN
Copied from MetroLyrics.com 

"Let Me Be As Christ to You"

Hubby and I just celebrated our 10 wedding anniversary.  We've been together almost 15 years. We met in college and became friends. On my 19th birthday while I was working in the college library reshelving books, he approached me in a Superman t-shirt and said, "Hello Lois."  He asked me on a date and on my 19th birthday we began a relationship that has continued into marriage.

Our wedding theme was, "See Ye First the Kingdom of God." It was my prayer in college to seek God first before anything else.  When I did, he blessed me with a Christian man who later became my husband.

I'm not the easiest person to get along with. I have a temper, I think I am always right, I'm quite stubborn, and I am passionate about goals, life, and the way I think things should be. But my husband sees through it all, and still finds me to be one he has wanted to be with for the rest of his life. I'm blessed.

My husband is quite stubborn as well.  He thinks he is always right and rolls his eyes when I come up another scheme for something or other (volunteer coordinator, writing the MOPs newsletter, etc). Yet as frustrating as he can be, he is still the one I want by my side for the rest of my life.

"Seek Ye First" was sung before I walked down the aisle. Friends of ours sang "The Servant Song" as part of our wedding Mass. And we danced to Alison Krauss's "When You Say Nothing At All" for our first dance.

Music is a part of our lives and I often feel that it echoes the thoughts and emotions that I have on a daily basis. In The Servant Song it reminds us to serve on another through life and "to have the grace to let you be my servant too."  And in When You Say Nothing At All the line that resonates with me is "the touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall."

Dear Superman,

Thank you for choosing me to be your wife. Let us continue to seek God first in our marriage. Please allow me to be your servant and I pray that God grants me the grace to let you be my servant, too.  Thank you for always catching me whenever I fall. You say it best when you say nothing at all. I love you!

Love, Lois

VOLT

Two weeks ago, Hubby and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary.  We decided to treat ourselves to a lunch at VOLT restaurant.  Hubby and I are Top Chef junkies and have been watching for several seasons.    If you watched last season, you'll know that VOLT is owned by one of the runners-up from last season.

Last Summer when we lived in Chicago we were able to visit Rick Bayless' restaurant Frontera. I heart Rick Bayless. I thought he had a great personality when I watched Top Chef Master's last Summer. I couldn't wait to try his food so it was a bonus that our condo was just blocks from his restaurant.

So when I heard that another Top Chef contestant had a restaurant nearby, Hubby and I made plans to go. It takes months to get a seating at VOLT...well if you want a evening meal.  I checked ahead and tried to get us one for our anniversary, but the meal times were for 9pm. I'm old and there is no way that I could stay awake for a 9pm meal, so Hubby and I settled for lunch on our anniversary.

We were able to get a babysitter and headed to VOLT.  I have to say it was hard to find. The restaurant is in a big brick building that we at first thought was a church. But really, it's a beautiful mansion.  After realizing we passed it, I had Hubby let me out and I walked to find the restaurant. Fortunately a friend told me about the parking on the side of the restaurant and Hubby was able to circle the block and come back and get a parking spot.

When I walked in I told them I had a reservation was for noon. The hostess was a little cold and kind of snotty and said, "Oh, are we waiting for the rest of your party?  They're not here yet?" I said, "No, he's just parking. Your restaurant isn't easy to find." She had me wait in the lounge until Hubby walked in. When he did, he told her his wife just checked in and as soon as he did, she did walk us back to a table.

We sat down and I have to say I was really giddy and excited.  We've been looking forward to this for several months and what a great way to celebrate our anniversary. A long, luxurious lunch without having to wait on the kids, keep them entertained, or feed them.

Here's the menu we selected:

Hubby:
He chose to do a wine pairing with his meal. It was just a taste to go along with his meal. He enjoyed having an expert decide for him what would taste well his meal selections. Each was a great accompaniment for each course.

1st Course-Goat Cheese Ravioli (Really good. He thought it was the best course of the day.)
2nd Course--Scallops (It was okay. Yummy, but I think the Goat Cheese Ravioli was so good that this was a bit of a disappointment in comparison).
Cheese plate--(He really enjoyed this. He thought the beer pairing was a great. I think it came with a belgium beer).
3rd Course--Blueberry cheesecake (He said it was good, but couldn't remember his initial thoughts).


Me:
1st Coure: Shiitake voulet (sp?). Basically mushroom soup. (This was really yummy. One of the best soups I've ever had. Just creamy enough.)
2nd Course--Grilled marinated hanger. (I've been craving red meat lately and this was wonderful! It was so tender and cooked absolutely perfectly. I was in heaven.)
Cheese Plate--(Unfortunately, I couldn't have any of the soft cheeses and there was only one cheese that I really liked. I had to give half my plate to Hubby.  I wouldn't do this again. This is just a personal preference. I think if circumstances were different, I would have enjoyed it more).
3rd Course--Textures of Chocolate (I love chocolate and this was a no-brainer as far as choice. Though I have to say, my favorite was the dollop of chocolate ice cream. Just right).

I did not indulge in the wine pairing for my meal. If we do this again, I think I would really like to do it. Hubby really liked it and I think I would, too. They give you just enough to enjoy with your course and since you have several courses, the amount is just right.

They did come around with bread and butter tray while waiting for our 1st course. The butter was so yummy and the bread so fresh it was perfect. I read one review saying that the customer would have taken the butter home if he could have!  Again, just enough so that you don't fill up on bread while waiting for your meal.

The waitstaff was courteous and polite. It was a little unnerving to have someone at our table every few minutes to check on us or to wipe crumbs off the table, but they were nice and answered our questions. At one point I got up to use the restroom and left my napkin on my seat. When I came back someone had come and folded it neatly beside my glass. It wasn't Hubby. Huh :)

I forgot my camera, but Hubby said he would have made fun of me for taking pictures of our dishes. I wasn't going to do that, but take a picture of us, instead. But of course, after he said that, we saw numerous tables taking pictures of their dishes. HA!

We would definitely go again and I would love to try the other dishes. I look forward to seeing how the menu changes with the seasons. I even got a sneak peek at Chef Voltaggio.  He was actually there. So cool to see him person after watching his performance on Top Chef!