I was planning to make a post today about how Mark and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary today, but Marko beat me to it!
(Isnt he a QT!)

I am not a poet like Mark, but I want to say; these past 10 years have been full of wonderful memories. Even the hardest times have been worth going through because I have such a good, sweet, loving and understanding man!

We have grown so much, and learned so much from each other, and had some awesome memories! Allow me to share snip its from these past 10 years together:

Year 1: We lived in a small 1 bed room apartment, both of us working, blissfully happy in our “honeymoon stage”. Mark is going to college and working Very hard!

Year 2: Mark is still working full time and going to college full time. We go through Frustrating feelings and discouragement, as we unsuccessfully try to start our family. Emptiness threatens to consume us.

Year 3: We experience tears of sorrow, and finally joy as we are blessed with our first child Savannah! Shortly after, Mark loses his job and finishes his Bachelors degree in computer science.

Year 4: Mark is out of work for almost a year. Despite Trying hard every day, he is unable to secure a job due to lack of experience in his field, or over qualification in jobs NOT in his field.
Mark buys a high quality camera and starts doing wedding photography to earn money on side jobs.
I am working, and trying not to get overwhelmingly sad at the fact that my new little baby and I are separated for more then 8 hours a day.

Year 5: Mark is blessed with a good job, after going through a few small jobs, and I am blessed enough to stay at home with Savannah and our new addition, Kiera! And later I start babysitting my sisters child Drey.

Year 6: Mark changes jobs, where he makes a little more. We search for a home of our own for months, and end up at a home of Matt’s to rent for a while. Then we fall in love with our neighborhood and ward, and swear never to leave. So we buy the house, and for the first time, we feel we are FINALLY HOME!

Year 7: I spend this year enjoying being a stay at home mom, and care taker of my sisters child Drey. Mark is still working at his job, and loving it! He works so hard at his job, and also side jobs of photography to help keep me home. (Which I am eternally greatful to him for) His job allows him to work from home so he can help me on days I need a little more support.

Year 8: I am still loving being a stay at home mom, and now I start watching my sisters newest child Mila. Mark works from home a few days a week, helping me as I struggle with tendinitis in my arms.

Year 9: I start home schooling Savannah, Kiera and Drey after having a less then positive experience in the public school kindergarten. Mark is working hard as ever, now able to be at his office more then at home. (I finally got the routine down and my arms are healing. Mark and I are enjoying our lovely little family! Our girls Love when daddy comes home! As do I!

Year 10: I continue home schooling, and loving it! I face medical trials, and Mark is a real support and help to me through all my pain and complaining! He does all he can, and more, to try to help me. He goes into debt to try to help relieve some of my pain. (I might add that he despises debt, and so for him, this was a real sacrifice!)

One thing I have discovered through these past 10 years, is …. Every year I am more in love with Mark then I was the year before! Thanks, Mark, for all the years of sweat, tears, pain and most of all, for all the Wonderful love and support you have always been to me!
I am looking forward to see whatthe next 10 years has in store for us!

I love you.
For ALL ETERNITY.