My, How Time Flies

This week holds a special day in our family. Coach and I will celebrate our 15th year of marriage on Thursday! We married in the ultimate party year, 1999, and we’ve been partying ever since! My, how time flies.

Ok, the partying thing? Not really. As many of you know, marriage isn’t always a party. Sometimes it’s a lot of mundane itineraries, and sometimes it’s a lot of work. Other times, though, marriage is the absolute best gift in my life. The sense of security I get from lying down next to Coach every night is worth more than gold, and knowing that someone always has my back is priceless. I love him more every day.

Our romance began at a young age (I’m telling you, time flies). For me, anyway. I’m not sure Coach actually reciprocated my feelings for years, but I was smitten with him in second grade…from my first day at my new school (Madre had married Papa that year, and we had recently moved to Papa’s farm in the country). I thought Coach was the cutest boy I had ever seen, and I couldn’t wait to win him over (you can read more about that here. Also, clicking here will take you to Jimmie’s version of the story. She tells it better, naturally.  Her’s makes me get teary-eyed).

It only took me fourteen years.

Although, in third grade, he did give me that amazing Smurfette necklace….

Thankfully, he only needed to grow up (and allow me time to do the same) before he came to his senses and realized that I was his one-and-only. We began dating at 22, both of us about to graduate from college. I had made plans, he had made plans, and suddenly we had new plans. We dated for two and a half years before he proposed, and we wasted no time, planning a wedding in only three months. It was really beautiful, and I am so glad we did things the way we wanted to – small and simple.

Honestly, we had a cheap wedding.  Daddy-O may not agree, because he provided invitations, accessories, photography, travel, and much more.  However, the flowers were fake, purchased at a discount house for silk flowers.  I just knew I could make my own arrangements!  Turns out, I couldn’t, but I had a great friend who could, and thankfully, did!photo 2 (90)

See my beautiful gown? photo 3 (80) Yeah, I rented it.  I have pictures!  Who needs yards and yards of white satin hanging around?

See my beautiful Easter Lillies?  photo 1 (92)Yeah, they were there for Easter.  We just happened to get married the weekend before, so the gorgeous Lillies and their spring scent were wonderful.

See my sweet little nephew? photo 4 (53) Yeah, he’s almost 20 years old.  I think I need a drink. My, how time flies.

Thank you for allowing me this trip down memory lane. There is so much more to the story, much of which hasn’t even happened yet. I love my husband, and he loves me. What more could a girl want?photo 5 (21)

Oh my goodness, time flies.

X,O,X,O,   Martie