Our anniversary

Today is our 16th wedding anniversary! How grateful I am that this remains a day to celebrate. We have grown so much in these last few years, and we truly appreciate the other for what each of us brings to this marriage. Marriage has become a joy, instead of a drudgery. All the aspects of marriage that I dreamed about as a child, and started to believe were unobtainable in my adulthood...are now a daily part of my life. Jonathan is my friend, my confidant, my protector. He knows what I need, right when I need it. He wants nothing more than my happiness...and I want nothing more than to return that happiness to him.

Jonathan and I went shopping for "Black Friday" for our very first time together (we've never been able to shop together before because either work schedules or our children being too young prevented us from being able to leave.) It was absolutely crazy out there! But we were able to get some really good deals and purchase some gifts for the kids that we normally wouldn't be able to afford if we paid full price. We stood in line for hours and were surrounded by a lot of intensity from the other shoppers. Not once did we bicker or fight. We just laughed and enjoyed our time together. I appreciated being able to find the "joy in the journey", rather than hearing complaining or bickering the entire time.

We came home at 6 am, completely exhausted. We put the gifts away and went to bed. I arose at 10 am to get breakfast for the boys and Grandma. I picked up the house and did some laundry. I tried to get Jonathan up to go and "hit" a couple more deals, but he wasn't budging out of that bed (He later told me he has a new appreciation for the constant lack of sleep I am enduring due to my work schedule). I laid down at 1230, so that I could be functional for our "anniversary festivities". Jonathan then had a quiet afternoon with the boys while I napped.

He got the kids ready by 4pm to take to my mom's. He had arranged for her to take the boys over night so we could have a romantic evening together. While he took the boys to my mom, I got ready myself and fed Grandma and settled her in for the evening. We then went shopping at a few more places, and headed to PF Changs for dinner. The food was incredible as always! They made us wait longer than they had originally predicted to us, so they went above and beyond with their service giving us a free appetizer and dessert to take home. When we opened our fortune cookies, I began to giggle when I read "Many pleasurable and memorable adventures are in store for you!" Wink, wink...nudge, nudge :D

We had discussed following the restaurant with going to the movies, but we were both whipped from the night before...so we just headed back home. It was so nice having a quiet house where we could enjoy being together without any other demands on us. What was even nicer was having a husband who wanted to go out of his way to show me how special I am to him. In this Thanksgiving season, I am so grateful for this man who loves me with all of his heart...a man who chooses me to share his time and all eternity with...a man who finds happiness in my happiness. Jonathan, I love you!