Today is our 15th anniversary. It's amazing for a few reasons. First, statistically speaking, being married under the age of 25 gave me a 63% chance of being divorced by the time I was 27 years old. Second, only 52% of the married population ever makes it to their 15 anniversary. Lastly, Rich could have picked a much easier person to live with. But, he didn't choose the easy road, he choose the one paved with a strong-willed woman's decisions--a career, couple of Emmys, handful of writing awards, traveling, social circles, nice house, nice car, nice diamond--okay that part I wanted and he indulged-- but none the less, things could have been easier if he would have jumped at the first opportunity to marry, but he didn't, he waited.
While he was struggling after he dissolved an engagement I was struggling with graduating from high school. It took two more years before our paths would cross. During that time, he ended his college football career, I headed toward Miss America, he started his medical schooling, I started at the U of U, he settled on Physical Therapy, I waffled on a major, he focused on his studies, I followed my heart-- and our worlds collided on Thanksgiving night when I met my girlfriends fiance who happened to be Rich's brother. Almost two years after that, we got married.
There aren't any regrets. I love being married to him. I struggle with being at home, but not being with him.
We've lived in a lot of different places and enjoyed a lot of different people. We've embraced change together even when it was hard.
I love to eat out, he agrees to go once a week, without fail--even if it makes him sick. He sits through chick-flicks. He doesn't make me go on road trips, we fly. He doesn't make me camp, we stay in hotels. He brings me flowers and pinches my butt when he walks by. He is a romantic.
He gets me, even more than my mom and sister do. He really knows what makes me tick--maybe better than I know myself. He knows what I need long before I do. He's so in tune to my weaknesses and my strengths. I love him for keeping my secrets and telling my jokes. Who knew you could get so much mileage out of swimsuit glue and "me time"? I love him because he always sides with me, even if I am wrong. I love him because when I am in the dark, he is the light, he never gives up on me. He knows I can do it and do it well. This may not have been the life I envisioned for myself 15 years ago, but what I have is so much better... I love him because we don't live with "what ifs". Thank you for taking a chance and marrying me. Happy anniversary--
We started the weekend with a trip to great-grandma Bywater's Easter Egg hunt. She lives in a retirement community and each year the staff host a fun egg hunt with too much candy and a breakfast for everyone at the end.
Easter traditions continued that afternoon with the coloring of the eggs. Grandma and Grandpa Coombs always supply each child with one dozen eggs, plenty of colors, drop cloth and a roll of paper towels--Anja needed all of it.
The kids allowed us a few group pictures this year. Anja was mad because I took away the giant container of bubbles just before we took the picture. The real Easter pictures are coming soon.
