Lucky 13

Today we celebrate 13 years of marriage and it's been great. As I think back on that day, I can't help but think how young we were 23 and 24 - just beginning to figure out life and as the years pass, we still are figuring out life.
We woke up this morning to the house decorated with anniversary signs the kids made and posted. They are so sweet and I love them so much.

I wouldn't change a thing over the years, they've all been lessons for us and have helped shape us into who we are. Yesterday, Darren officiated a friend's wedding and as he was speaking about marriage I thought everything he was talking about was true.
So, I asked him today, what have you learned over the last 13 years and he said, "he's always right, I'm addicted to his love," and we all laughed at his silliness and then he said, "no, marriage is hard work and if you get lazy things fall apart."

Marriage is definitely not what I thought is was, but at 23 you always tend to think idealistic and think it will be easy and wonderful full of magic and sweetness, but it's not. Marriage is messy, difficult and hard work, but through all that it is also beautiful.
Over 13 years, we have brought two outstanding children to the world, have experienced joy, happiness, anger, sadness, and probably every emotion there is - there have been difficult times, but there have been more good times and the thing is you can't pick and choose what you to experience. You have to take it all and hopefully afterward come out as a better person; a better couple. We all have imperfections, say things we shouldn't, do things we shouldn't, but if you acknowledge those things, be open and listen, really listen - you see the vulnerability of each other. You recognize that through those difficult times, there is strength. Marriage is compromise.

The hubs is right, when we get lazy things fall apart and it's get messy and it's so easy to be lazy. The difficult work is in everything life gives you and trying to move through it together.
I couldn't have asked for a better partner and I'm glad to share in another year of togetherness. Marriage is a work in progress and I'll take that.

"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate then when I fall asleep your eyes close.”
– Pablo Neruda

Lost amongst the Boxes

It's been a while, we have moved out of our beloved WH home and temporarily in a cute rental till we build. It's been a whirlwind and we have about a third of our stuff out, but most in boxes still because there is no room. It has been an adjustment and eye-opening, I've talked with friends about how I would love a tiny home, but considering we have downsized in the rental, I've come to realize that I could do a tiny home, but not with the kids. My current office space is in the living room, which the kids also hang out in, so I'm constantly telling them to keep it down so I can concentrate and they will only play outside for so long before it gets too hot that they want to come in, so it's been interesting to say the least.

We've not broken ground on our lot (yet) which has been frustrating, but we haven't gotten a final quote, so really we can't until we get that. The hubs is getting frustrated as am I and I wonder if we should just start looking a houses already on the market? I feel lost in this process and all of it is new territory for us, so I don't really know what to expect. We have reached out to another builder and maybe things will move quicker, who knows. As of now, the prospect of picking up and moving to some remote island keeps looking better. I can make a pretty mean rum punch.

The kids will start school in a couple weeks, both are excited and I'm pretty excited to get back into some type of routine. The summer has not been what we planned, but we've been reading some great books, enjoying the pool, and have had lots of smoothies and ice cream. We did take a weekend trip to St. Louis and hit the City Museum
If you have not been, it is completely awesome and amazingly fun! I think I had just as much fun as the kids.

 The move has taken a lot out of us and I'm glad it's over, and not looking forward to another one later (whatever that looks like).