12 Years

12 years ago today I pledged to love, honor and cherish Matt until death do us part. We had great hopes for the future that day - in my mind, after the wedding would come building our life together - we'd eventually buy a house, have kids (2 was his number, I had 3 in mind), and grow old together raising our happy family. We had a plan to pay off our debt so I could stay home when the kids eventually came along, and I'd be a happy homemaker.

12 years have passed already, and things have pretty much gone along as I figured. House? check; kids? double-check; the satisfaction of staying home and raising our happy family? Some days are better than others. I don't call myself 'Harried Mom' for nothing.

Look at all our shining YOUNG faces!

The days are busy, and the years seem to be going by faster every time I blink. We were getting ready for church on Christmas Eve and I could vividly picture sitting in church LAST Christmas Eve, down to where we were sitting, what everyone was wearing, and how I went to grab Sarah and Jason from the nursery in time for communion & singing Silent Night by candlelight at the end of the service.

My hands have not looked this nice once since this picture was taken.

I think this will be a challenging year for us, coming up on lucky number 13 - the little two have minds of their own but still need so much help; Evie and William are more independent but less appreciative and helpful than we'd like; Matt's looking at where he is in life at 40 and dealing with the restlessness that what is essentially mid-life brings; I'm trying to maintain my sanity at home with small people while also searching for balance with my sense of self as an individual as opposed to cook/laundress/housekeeper. Or, what do I want to be when I grow up?

My anniversary card - I swear I thought the hearts were blood drops at first glance - how fitting :)

So here we are at 12 years, and I'm hopeful for the future. Things get easier in some ways day by day, and maybe more challenging in others, but each day brings us a step farther from the intensity and insanity that is having 4 kids within 6 years of each other. In my Christmas card Matt told me he's looking forward to another year with me, so at least I know he'll stick around that long :) And maybe by the time we hit 15 years some of the grandparents will be willing to come and stay with them while we get out of Mayberry for a week. Or 3. Please?