2 Years and Counting

Today James and I celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary. This morning I was lying in bed listening to James alarm clock play "Rollin' Down the River of Love" and had to laugh. James and I had what you call a "whirlwind romance"....literally. I met James online shortly after Thanksgiving of 2006. We had our first date on December 8th, we were engaged January 13th and married March 10th. Anyone who has awaited their wedding day knows how slow the time seems to move. Yet, as soon as we are through with the I do's time seems to move at a much faster speed. I remember that day and the days leading up to it with perfect clarity, which for me is a rarity. I remember the day that James purposed. How insistent he was that I come to visit in Las Vegas that weekend. The wonderful evening he planned. We went to see Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian after which we took a gondola ride on the little river that ran throught the casino.
The great thing about that picture is if you look close enough you can see the ring box in James pocket. When the boat got to the end of the water way to turn around James stood up, nearly turning the boat over, then got on his knee and asked me to share my life with him. People were cheering all around us. It felt like a scene straight out of a sappy chic flick and I loved every moment!

As we would have to go through a long process (still waiting) to be sealed we decided to get married in Laguna Beach. Shortly after making this decision, my little brother decided that he and his fiance would also like to be married there, on the same day. So James and I actually attended their wedding just hours before our own. It was a truly memorable day. Plus all our family only had to travel once and were able to see both our weddings.
We also decided that it would be "fun" to take the kids to Disneyland the day before the wedding. We wanted them to feel that this was as much about their happiness as it was our own. So what better place to do this than The Happiest Place on Earth right?
Unfortunately half way through the day Kalysta fell and hit her face on a short metal fence. So James and Kalysta spent the next 8 hours in the E.R. and Kalysta had a beautiful black eye and stitches. By the time we both made it back to the hotel room we were exhausted.
The next morning we awoke, tired but excited. The day couldn't have been better. The weather was beautiful. We were surrounded by our family and closest friends. We stood barefoot in the sand and knew, without a single doubt that we had found true, lasting happiness. The ceremony was sweet and simple. We received good counsel from the bishop. We knew that there would be tough days ahead. Blending families in never an easy process, but we have been extremely blessed. The last 2 years have been ones of laughter, love, learning, compromise, fun, forgiving and never, never giving up. I look forward to every day I get to spend with James. I look forward to the day I will kneel in the Holy Temple and bind my life to his forever. Then, and only then, can our eternal lives together begin. Here's to forever....

We also had a combined reception dinner with my brother. We had a such a fun time. We even cut the cake, smashing it in each others faces and James braved the whole embarrassing fiasco of retrieving the garter. Ok, so it was more that I was embarrassed. If you were there you would understand why. The picture doesn't even do it justice.
One week after our wedding we headed off to Hawaii. We had so much fun we almost decided not to come home. We spent a few days on Oahu and then the remainder of the time in Kauai. We went scuba diving. Ate lots and lots of yummy food. Laid on the beach. Hit up the Polynesian Cultural Center. Visited some family (my cousin J.D. and his cute wife were living there at the time) Visited a local church and spent some time at the Laie temple. Visited Pearl Harbor, which everyone should do if ever given the chance. And just enjoyed being together in such a beautiful place. We can't wait to go back!

Simply put, looking back on the last 2 years there is little I would change. I feel extremely blessed to have such a devoted husband. His family is his first priority. He has a strong and firm testimony. He is just so much fun to be around. I'm pretty sure I will spend the coming years much like the last 2 asking myself how did I get so lucky?