Happy 13th Anniversary!

13 years! I can't believe it! 13 years seem so long and so short at the same time. As I look back from where we started to where we are now, I would think that we should be married for at least 20 years or more to have accomplished all we have. But, when I consider how long we've been alive and how long I want to be married to Jeff, I realize that 13 years is only a drop in the bucket. Jeff and I were always meant to be. I have felt that from the first time I was physically with him. It just felt familiar and safe. We've had our rough patches, but I have always known this was meant to be. This year's traditional anniversary gift was "lace". I liked the spin on the word with the phrase "laced together" (and yes...he got new shoes). There is no one else I would rather be laced together with. Jeff gets me. He is patient with my quirks. He pushes me when he needs to and embraces me when I've been pushed too hard. He is my safe space. He is my rock. He is my best friend and eternal love. And I would still say yes.

This year, our anniversary fell on a Monday, which also happened to be Martin Luther King Day. And, unfortunately, all the nasty cold/flu germs we had successfully avoided had finally caught up to us (well, at least me, but hit you shortly thereafter). We still didn't want the day to pass without any celebration, but we kept it small. The Saturday before (which was the anniversary of the "day" we got married), we had gone to the temple to do some sealings. I enjoyed kneeling across the altar from my husband and remembering the promises we had made to God and to each other that day. Monday night, we headed to Midway where we had dinner at Cafe Galleria in one of their alpenglobes. When we arrived for our reservation, there were flowers and a card on the table for me. Jeff had already been there earlier in the day to drop off 13 roses (with lace tied around the vase) and a sweet card. It was super sweet. The globe experience was fun too. We were able to people watch without all the restaurant noise. We were literally in our own little bubble. The food was great and the company was perfect. It may not have been much, but we made the time to celebrate each other and honor what we have created together...and that was enough.