14 years

today is our anniversary. i woke up to chris making this lovely breakfast.

and gifting me this beautiful orchid i've been drooling over.

i am one lucky lady.

14 years sounds like such a long time, but it has gone by so fast...

time flies when you're having fun, right?

the years have taken us through so many special and sometimes trying events.
college graduation, law school, having two children in law school.

having two more through the years of a demanding career, the loss of a parent, 

a remodel, running a business, and now we are smack dab in the middle of a major event -

moving to a new house and neighborhood after being in ours for the last 10 years.

planning another remodel, and making all the decisions that go with it (started this week!).

we have gone through the roller coaster of emotions that come along with a major change,

and although leaving our current house and neighborhood will be difficult,
we are all so excited for this new chapter in our lives together.

it is 'bitter sweet' - ella and i have talked a lot about this over the last few days.

we'll miss our old neighborhood, it's been so good to us these first 10 years of child rearing.

but we are all so excited and feel so blessed for this new adventure awaiting us.

we have found a home that will fit the needs of our family wonderfully as the kids grow.

and the neighborhood is filled with friends and family, it's an ideal situation.
truly a gift from God, and we feel so meant to be for us -
just as we felt our current house was for us at that time in our lives.

we've taken our time over the last few years, patiently searching, waiting for the right one.

and God has blessed us for our patience (wasn't always easy) -

"good things come to those who wait", yes i believe it's true.

we have taken our time in our lives together really examining major decisions,

so that we can do what is right for our family.

saving, planning, praying, and waiting for the right time to do something...

this has really paid off for us..."timing is everything".

these major events in our lives have brought immense joy and also difficulty at times,
and i am so thankful to have a man like mine to go through it all with.
my partner has been there and loved me through it all and i feel truly blessed.
yes, i am a lucky lady.

this morning before chris left for work, we were hugging tight -
little john john ran over and wrapped his arms around both of us.
then ella walked by, and we grabbed her into the group hug too.
so, i had to include this picture with john's goofy face,
as it reminded me of the scene from this morning and the love that surrounds us.

i love my husband, and i love my family -
thank you chris, for the last 14 years.
it has been wonderful and i can't wait to see what the next 14 have in store for us.