My Funny Valentine

Bry had his 30th birthday right before Valentine's Day.  It was a strangely emotional day for me.  Each year I can't imagine my love growing for this guy who's a TOTAL clutter-bug, who INSISTS on being 20 minutes early for everything, and who would buy ANOTHER wallet for himself in a flash, not because he needs one, but because it's 65% off!!! (and then store it away in a closet for years so he has a fresh supply, just in case) 

Maybe love has little to do with two model-looking people getting together and living a perfect, lavish life.  Maybe it's about a man and woman CHOOSING to devote themselves to each other because no one else would put up with them!  (I know my wisdom is astounding;)

I DO completely and utterly adore this dude- faults and all.  We have worked so hard to build a partnership, friendship, and love that I'm truly proud of.  He is a remarkable man who I TOTALLY don't deserve.  But, best of all-  he makes me laugh more than anyone else in the world.  I'm so lucky to have you Bry.

6 Days later...DeeDee's Walking!

Erin has spent years encouraging me to write a post. I guess it just took me being the one to witness a "first" for once.  Too many times I've come home to hear all the amazing and cute things my children do while I'm at school. But today, I am one proud dad.  Just six days ago we were enjoying Delia's spider-crawl.  While upstairs playing, she just stood up and walked across the room like it wasn't a big deal.  I was afraid that I had missed my chance.  With her you have a very small window of opportunity to catch her performing.  I can't recount the number of occasions we wished that we kept the camcorder on us at all times.  I ran downstairs as fast as I could, grabbed the camcorder, ran back up and started recording just in time...

The Culprit

I just can't be mad at him...

With test after test, cranky professors, VERY little sleep, and rotations every other week taking him out of town for days and days of slave labor- I can't blame him for forgetting to tell me he took the camera to school.

Bryan's Oral Pathology Mentors at VCU

Oral Pathologists study diseases of the mouth through microscopes. 

These last few months of dental school have been stressful to the MAX.  Bryan is living off of adrenalin and Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi- I don't know how he's still standing, but he's excelling as always.  I'm so proud of him, but I wish me and the kids could spend more time with our favorite man!

Happy Birthday

Thomas S. Monson said:  "Essential to your success and happiness is the advice 'Choose your friends with caution.' We tend to become like those whom we admire, and they are usually our friends. We should associate with those who, like us, are planning not for temporary convenience, shallow goals, or narrow ambition--but rather with those who value the things that matter most, even eternal objectives.

"Maintain an eternal perspective. . . There is no scene so sweet, no time so sacred as that very special day of your marriage. Then and there you glimpse celestial joy."

"Be Thou an Example," Ensign, May 2005

Making the decision to marry you for time and all eternity was a cinch.  I knew you had everything I wanted and needed and you have always exceeded my expectations.  This marriage journey we've taken together hasn't been effortless.  We've worked so hard to stay true to our covenants and our family goals, but we've fallen short many, many times. We've been married for seven years and life hasn't gotten easier, but the objective is more worth fighting for.  I'm so lucky to walk hand in hand with you, my dear best friend, as we discover our potential- with Christ as our guide.   Happy 29th Birthday Bryan.

My Guy

Nope, he's not perfect, but he's super close.

l

Bry and I recently celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary and his 28th birthday.

l

We've been together long enough for some major fights, catastrophes, emergencies, meltdowns, sicknesses, deaths, and days where we couldn't stand to be in the same room. But miraculously he still comes home every day with excitement in his eyes- even though he's exhausted and our life is pretty dang boring. He's really something special and I'm a lucky girl.

l

There's so little time he gets to spend with us, so he likes to leave notes before he leaves early in the morning to remind us of his love.

l

Here's two examples of their hilarity:

(yes, he's going to kill me for sharing these)

"Roses R' Red

Violets R' Blue

I scream sad that I have to leave you.

But don't you fret,

I'll be right back.

Just as surely as cats are black."

l

"Of all the places on earth to go,

I would like to have you know,

there's no place I'd rather be

than, well, anywhere as long as my beautiful family is with me.

Which is why a sorrowful moment

I face each day, when 'goodbye' I have to say.

But what joy comes at the end of the day

when my angel children come running my way.

But that's not the crowning jewel,

you'd better sit on a stool.

For the greatest gift I was given

was my angel wife -Erin."

l

One thing we've discovered in our humble marriage: laughing together heals and strengthens. I'm so, so grateful to have a guy who will laugh with me, even when life is yucky.