Twelve Years and Still Counting...

Yesterday was one of those "Two For One" holidays. Yesterday was Father's Day, of course, but it was also our anniversary. We have been married for,... any guesses? Well, we have been married for a pretty darn long time,... TWELVE YEARS!!! It's been quite a ride. We have had some amazing times, and some amazingly difficult and trying times, but we have survived. It is crazy to think where twelve years has taken us and it is really mind-boggling to think where we will be in another twelve.

Twelve years ago we looked like this (and we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into :)

And now twelve years, 3 kids and gray hair for some (me), and less hair for others (not me), later...


We are still happy, and together,.... for forever. :)

Our First Baptism

Well, my oldest was baptized on Saturday. It really was an amazing experience for all of us. Of course, we couldn't begin the occasion without a little drama first. We needed to be at the church a half hour early to get Vanessa and Marty fitted into their baptismal clothing. We asked Marty's parents if they would watch Evan and Ben at our house so we could do this without them running around the church. Vanessa's baptism was to begin at 9:30. At 9:25, Marty got a call from his dad telling him that Evan was lost and that they and some of our neighbors had been looking for him for the past fifteen minutes. Well, needless to say, we had to drop everything and rush out of the church in a bit of a panic. Just as we were pulling out of the church parking lot, we got a call again saying that they had found him. So, we got started a bit late, but hey, I guess the incident just makes the day all that much more memorable. Sigh....

In all the craziness, I didn't get a picture of Vanessa and Marty in their white jumpsuits. I have been a bit bummed about it since, but I know I will have the image of my little girl dressed all in white engraved in my head for the rest of my life. She really did look like a little angel.

I hope Vanessa will remember her special day. I know I remember mine. I am the youngest in my family by about eight years. My dad is a convert. I actually got to witness my dad being baptized a year or so before my own. Consequently, I was the only one of my siblings who was baptized by my father. I also remember one of my older sisters giving me a yellow rose that day. It was just a few months later, that she passed away unexpectedly.

It is so strange to me, to now have my own daughter being baptized. It really doesn't seem that long ago...



Time sure does fly! I am not sure if I can see a resemblance or not. I had some crazy permed hair back then!

The rest of the program was wonderful. She had some amazing talks by her uncle and grandfather (Capa) and her dad gave her a beautiful confirmation blessing. Afterward, we took Vanessa out to lunch with her Nana and Capa to one of her favorite restaurants.


Anyway, it was an amazing day for our entire family. And luckily by the time it was all over, we still had every member of our family present. (no runaways! :) )