Happy Anniversary

We spent a great day on Saturday celebrating the beginning of our family. 19 years ago, we were married in the Salt Lake City temple for time and all eternity. It's hard to wrap my brain around how much our lives have changed since then, and almost inconcievable that I could be even more crazy about Mark now than I was then.

Way back when, I could only dream what life would be like. I certainly couldn't picture how life would be with 5 children, and now I can't seem to imagine it without them. We spent the morning with the whole family at the park feeding the ducks (and the pigeons, the kids invented a new game called 'bowling for pigeons') and eating bagels w/ cream cheese, mandarins and hot chocolate. (It works) Even Lucky tagged along-though it was hard to keep him from eating the bread we were feeding the birds. Next time, we'll remember to bring doggy treats.

When we got back, the assistants came over. They 'built us a cake'. A pineapple upside down cake, one of Elder Endemano's family traditions on anniversaries. (I couldn't figure out why Taylor was going in and out of the house at 6 in the morning-but apparently, it had something to do with the cake.) They also bought us some hunting ball caps with the scripture from Jeremiah 16:16 on them. Just after they left, Jacob Johnson (a returning missionary) surprised us with a visit (first Mark's birthday and now our anniversary. He's going to spoil us.) Jessica did a good job stalling us until all the visitor's arrived. I think she enjoys all the collaborating. It was fun to have some of our 'adopted' sons spend that time with us, too. (Wow, in a year and a half when we go home, we'll have 500 new 'sons & daughters')

Jessica had things well in hand, so we snuck off after that, and spent the bulk of the day together (no cell phones). It was great to hold hands and just meander around totally inconspicuous. We did a little shopping and went to dinner. So uneventful and so wonderful! It was fantastic to just be.

I love my life. When Elder Hafen spoke to the missionaries this last week, he said some things about the mentoring we were giving the missionaries; specifically about our marriage and our family. At the time, I thought he was being too generous, but yesterday I though again about what he said and about our 19 years together. We are so very blessed. Blessed to each come from strong homes; to have common desires and goals; to have opportunities that stretch us and help us grow closer together as a companionship; to both have strong & abiding testimonies of Jesus Christ; add the love and respect we have for each other and I cannot help but be grateful for the wonderful man with whom I'm lucky enough to share my life.

...and this is only the beginning.