Two years down and eternity to go!

Today marks our second anniversary and I couldn't be any happier. What a life we have had in the past year, let alone two years. What a crazy up and down life we have. What memories we have created. The tears we have shed together, the laughs we have had together, the jokes and the life changing events who have made us such a great couple.

April 28, 2012 - Sealed in the Seattle, WA temple
I had no idea what my future with this man could bring!

April 28, 2013 - Anniversary trip to San Antonio
A  month and a half pregnant with Hutson boy.

April 28, 2014 - Anniversary dinner
Baby slobber and a purse full of toys is my new life.

I remember the night before Grant and I got married. I never was nervous. I never had a doubt in my mind what was before me. I was so anxious to spend the rest of my life waking up to him and never having to say good bye.

Our first year of marriage was full of nonstop events causing time to fly by! We moved into our neighbors basement, packed up all of our stuff and moved from Washington to Texas (I had no idea what I was getting myself into), moved in with my in-laws, moved into our first real place together (I loved that apartment!), got a dog because we had no plans to get pregnant (ha!), and found out we were pregnant. My wonderful in-laws surprised us with a hotel on the water in San Antonio for our first wedding anniversary. We had plans to go, do, and see so much while we were there, but instead relaxed and walked around the water while spoiling ourselves with way too much delicious food.

My coworker recently asked me what our plans for our anniversary were this year. I had absolutely no idea. Grant and I planned to go to Galveston just the two of us. I was going to surprise Grant with a fishing expedition and a relaxing weekend at the beach. Having a baby has definitely put a little bit of a damper on being able to pick up and go without thinking about it. I would never change it for anything, but because my in-laws were going to be out of town (free babysitters) and Grant had drill both this last weekend and next we decided to move our weekend getaway for later this summer. Last night we still had no idea what we were going to do today, and for some reason I was totally okay with it.

Grant and I have never been big planners or needed much to occupy ourselves. That is one thing that I am grateful for. Just being together makes us happy and content. This morning Hutson woke us up at 6:30am (much earlier than normal). I fed him and the three of us cuddled together in bed for another hour and a half. Grant spoiled me by getting us donuts for breakfast. I gave Grant his card and a gift to him to get his CHL. He has been wanting it so bad! We laid in bed while watching Private Practice (Yes, I have watched almost two whole seasons in the last three days. That's what happens when the husband is out of town). I asked Grant if we could go out to lunch, but he was way too anxious to get me my anniversary gift. He told me that I needed to pick it out. We left the house and my mind was running through ideas of what he could be getting me. Note to anyone that knows Grant: he CANNOT keep secrets! I was impressed. We headed down 121 and into Allen. He told me he didn't really know where the place was but we would figure it out. The outlet stores are in Allen and the only one we ever shop at is the Coach store (my addiction!). He told me I could get anything in the store. I ended up getting a diaper bag (surprise, surprise!). The rest of the day we spent walking around the outlet mall, dealing with a baby who had his first blowout diaper (boy was he angry!), bought Grant some new soccer shoes in exchange for getting his CHL, then headed home to waste a couple hours until our surprise dinner. Grant surprised me with a DELICIOUS dinner at Jinbah (a Japanese hibachi restaurant). He spoiled me with lobster and filet mignon dinner. What a stud he!

Yes, I am impressed by the amount of effort Grant put into today. But at the end of today, while Hutson is asleep in his room and Grant is gone playing in a soccer game, I reflect on how none of those materialistic things matter to me or made my day as great as it was. I don't need any "thing" to make me happy. I don't need any trip or any amount of money to make me happy. Grant and I don't have a lot of money right now due to lots of bills from the past couple months, but today it didn't matter. Today, I am reminded just how blessed I am to have such a thoughtful and amazing husband. I know that almost any women can write this as they reflect on their spouse, but I feel the need to do it myself.

I have a husband who has gone through amazing trials in his life. He sacrificed years of his life to fight in the Army, who continues to sacrifice years of his life in the Army to take care of his family's health needs. Those years of trial and anguish still haunt him and probably always will. He has been teased, embarrassed, and manipulated for his beliefs and morals. He has stood up for himself and our family when times have tested us. He has needed a shoulder to cry on and constant words of encouragement, but at the end of the day he is my hero. He is my best friend and my constant companion. I don't need any fancy day or fancy gifts. Laying on the couch, watching TV, laughing at silly faces our son makes, playing fetch with our dog...those are the moments that remind me just how lucky I am. Those are the moments that remind me why I married him. They are the moments that I hope we continue to have for eternity.