In Five Years’ Time

It has been five years since I have married my best friend. Five years doesn’t seem like a really long time, especially when you plan to be married for the rest of your life, but a lot has happened in five years and I was thinking about it this morning, thinking about where we were and where we are now… and really it’s pretty incredible this journey we’ve taken together.

In five years, we have moved five times. Well, four if you don’t count moving me up to Memphis.

In five years, we have had two jobs.

In five years, we have had two cars… only one of which we paid more than $1 for.

In five years, we have lived in four houses/apartments.

In five years we have had one child, and have one more on the way.

And, you know, a million laughs.

To my best friend, who makes me crazy sometimes, and cares so much for me, and for Benjamin, and our unborn baby… thank you. For everything. For being a Christian husband and father, for caring for us and loving us. We’ve ‘gone through’ a lot in five years, but I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

Except maybe what we had for lunch yesterday but that’s not your fault… entirely, ha!

I love you!

3 Years and Still Laughing

3 Years = 1096 Days = Our Anniversary!

I can't believe it! 3 Years have really flown by! Truly I don't know of anyone on earth besides my wonderful husband whom I would have rather spent these past 3 years with!



3 Years and Still Laughing!



3 Years and Still hanging on to that dress... anyone need a wedding dress? ha!



3 Years and we've changed and grown a lot - but oh how blessed these 3 years have been!

I love you, Babe! Happy Anniversary to me & my best friend!

One Thousand.

1,000.

One Thousand.

That's a big number. Huge, to me. $1,000 may not seem much to some people, but to me, that's huge. 1,000 anything would be a lot.

Today, officially, my husband and I have been married for 1,000 days. One Thousand Days.

One Thousand Days of ups and downs. One Thousand Days of laughter and tears. One Thousand Days of growing and learning. One Thousand Days with the man I love, who I knew I loved within a couple weeks of knowing him. Not many people know this, but Carl and I met on MySpace, through a mutual friend. I was dating someone at the time, but it didn't take me very long at all to realize who I really wanted to be with. We've been through a lot. I can't imagine anyone else I would rather be with for the rest of my life! One Thousand Days seems like a LONG time. It hasn't even been 3 years yet!

Today we will be parting ways for the weekend, and it makes me really sad! I will be looking forward to seeing him again on Sunday!

Carl, I love you! I have loved you more each and every one of these 1,000 days, and I pray that I will continue to do so!



And every time I see you
I still hear trumpets

I love, and the world is mine!

I saw this Valentine's Survey on Kelly's blog and thought I might fill it out as well! Thanks for sharing, Kelly!

1. When was your "engagement" anniversary: December 22, 2006

2. When is your "marriage" anniversary: August 11, 2007

3. How long have you known your spouse: 4 1/2 years

4. How long did you date/court before you were engaged: 2 months just about

5. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time: Myspace. Yes, it's true! We had a mutual friend and he was up at Preaching school where some of my friends had gone. We officially met at my friend Brandyn's house.

6. What is your spouses name: Carl

7. Do you have any children yet: Benjamin

8. How many: One, for now ;)

9. Do you have any house pets: We used to have a rabbit but he went to live on a farm. Really. He's a breeding rabbit now.

10. Do you own a house or rent: Rent

11. Do you live in the country or town/city: town/city

12. What is one of your favorite activities together: going on walks with our son

13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot: I guess we really like going to Memphis for the Lectureship, but that's not really vacation...

14. How many siblings (including in-laws): 3

15. What church do you attend: FV Church of Christ

16. Is this the church you were married in: No

17. What is your favorite restaurant to eat at together: I suppose we really like Cheddars... but I don't know if that's our favorite. We also like Sonny's and Longhorn.

18. Do you work or stay at home: I stay at home and work as a mother and housekeeper (both of which I feel I am getting better at!)

19. Where did you honeymoon: Chattanooga, Tn

20. Leave a piece of marriage advice: Always put your spouse first. Serve each other and you will be happy!


Our first picture together! We were babies! I had just turned 18, and Carl was 19.


In New Orleans, the French Quarter. This was the week of Carl's 21st birthday, and we were there campaigning for the DeGualle Drive church of Christ.


Our growing family!


Brand new baby about to go to his first Bible Class.


Christmas 2009.

I Love You, Babe!

Cotton!

Today was my Two-Year Anniversary! I love my husband now even more than ever, and I am so thankful we said "I do" two years ago!

I love you, Carl!


And, if you didn't know, the Two-Year Anniversary is the Cotton Anniversary.

there goes the rug...

Last night was rough. Right now I am sitting in my parents' bonus room, listening to Carl playing guitar, and wrapping my head around the past night, and the nights that lie ahead. Have you ever been in a sort of place in your life where you're so content, and you feel like everything is just happening so well, and wow you can't believe all the great things that are waiting ahead for you? And then the next moment you find yourself sobbing for hours? Perhaps not, but let me explain.

I had a craving for cheese pizza last night. Ohkay we'll stop there and let me say this: this is not a pregnancy sob story, though pregnancy may also contribute to the hours of sobbing. Carl went out to get me a personal pan cheese pizza, because he's super sweet and is so wonderful to me. Well, I played games on my iPod for a while, and then just laid back to get a small nap... and when Carl came back, he put the pizza on the bed and said, "We need to start packing our stuff. We have to be out by Saturday."

If you recall in my last post I said we were hoping to get into the house the first weekend of December. Well, that was the plan. Saturday we had seen the inside of the house and then went to find paint for the walls so we could get it painted and aired out before I have to sleep in the house. But that's not this coming Saturday. That's 2 Saturdays away. We had till this Saturday, the one after Thanksgiving, to get out of the house we were staying in.

I won't give the details. I don't think it's necessary. But, try to put yourself in our shoes... with everything except a few essentials in storage 2 hours away, and a house that might not be ready to move into, at least to our standards (as clean as it can be and painted up, at least so I don't have to sleep in a cloud of paint fumes).

I sobbed, like I said, for hours it seemed. It could have been less, I don't know. I was mad, confused, stressed, worried... what would we do? Where would we go?

I prayed about it and calmed down. And then I called my parents. So we figured I'd stay up here in Winder for a few days. We were planning on going to Rome to spend Thanksgiving with the Kidwells/McBrayers anyway, so Carl's going to go back down to Fort Valley to paint our house (while living off an air mattress, the poor thing), and then he'll be back Wednesday night after services. We'll leave Thursday to go to Rome, come back Friday and rent a U-Haul, and start packing that up. Saturday we'll drive back to Fort Valley.

I guess the reason I asked if he'd take me to Winder to spend time with my family is because I felt a little betrayed. I guess I might still feel that way. But knowing we've been "evicted" for less than a good reason (in our mind) without much notice, I just couldn't stay. Does that sound bad? I guess I also just needed to see my parents, have back a little bit of that stability, that dependableness. The feeling that I'm not going to have the rug yanked out from underneath me. I mean, we have signed the lease, that house is ours now. It ain't going nowhere. It just needs paint and I can't sleep in a freshly painted bedroom. It's safer if Carl does that and I stay away for a bit. I suppose a lot of things factor into my reasoning.

I'm happy. I'm a bit burned, and it's still something that's been hard to swallow and digest, but I'm happy. Strange to say, huh? But I am taken care of.

I'm going to cry my eyes out again tonight when Carl reads the story to Benjamin. We might have to do that over the phone. I just don't like being separated from Carl for very long. I'm going to have to brag a bit and tell you that Carl has been so good to me. He takes care of me like I'm supposed to. He's so involved with the pregnancy. He reads up on my symptoms and asks what he can do to help when I have a complaint. He's just been real good to me. I am so blessed. I have a lot to be thankful for. :)

I hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Kristen

PS - Pictures later. :)

my thoughts, on different matters

Two more days. This countdown went by ultra fast, don't you think? I can hardly believe that on Friday we will finally, FINALLY be out of Winder. You never do expect to move back home after being away for nearly a year and being married... and then things happen and you have no other choice. It really hasn't been all that bad. It feels like we've been here about a year, but we've only been here since the end of June. About 4 1/2 months. It feels like time has gone by so slowly, and yet it's whizzed past.

At our last Dr. appointment (I know I didn't give a lot of detail when I updated that day), Dr. Lowe asked us to rate our marriage from 1-10. I wonder how many other couples he asks that question, and how many others unanimously rate theirs at a 10. Honestly, I mean. Why do I rate our marriage a 10? Well because we're perfect, of course! Not really. We're definitely not perfect. We definitely have a lot to learn still. A lot of growing to do. But I think what makes ours a 10 is the fact that we are willing to grow and willing to learn, and to be patient doing so. Sacrifice. Honesty. Unconditional love. And so much more - we're willing to put it all into it. Why? Because when we said our vows, we meant them. Because we know our responsibilities and roles, biblically, in this marriage. I'll say it for those who aren't married - it isn't easy! Don't expect it to be! Expect it to be the opposite, and then get ready to work at it!

And it's so worth it. Every minute of it.

I can't wait until Benjamin joins our family. Well, he already has joined it, because he's here already... just not out in the open yet for everyone to hold and see. I'm so excited. If tomorrow was January 14th, I would be THRILLED. It won't be too much longer! I feel ready for everything, and then again I feel so anxious. Can I be a good mother? I know I can, but will I? I know I will, but how? And how long will it take to get the hang of it?

I told my dad what I wanted to do for my birthday dinner (they're taking us out since we'll have moved by my birthday, which is Sunday), and he told me I was breaking tradition because I had suggested we'd eat, and come back home to play card games or Apples to Apples, and usually we just go out to eat and don't enjoy each other's company. I shrugged and told him, "It's what I do." And it certainly is. Married at 18, pregnant at 19, and when I'm 20, I'll be the mother to a sweet baby boy. There are people my age who would say "I have too much life to live yet and to learn to have a family". But that's just it for me. This is what I want for my life. I want to be a wife and a mother. So why get started so early? ... Why should I wait?

Anyway, I feel like going outside with the camera... probably for the last time being here. Oh! I'm 29 weeks today! 11 to go! Closing in on the finish line!

- Kkens