7 Years

On the 7th Mark and I will celebrate our 7 year anniversary. If there is such a thing as the 7 year itch - Mark and I aren't feeling it!

Thinking about our upcoming anniversary I've been thinking a lot about my favorite memories of Mark. So I thought I'd share my top 7 (in no particular order) excluding babies of course, because nothing in the world tops the way you feel about your spouse when you welcome a piece of both of you into the world.

1. The proposal. Man oh man did Mark pull out all the stops. Both of our families were in on it and they kept me in the dark all day. Mark was supposed to be in California and even though he had a few days off for Labor Day weekend he said he couldn't come up to Idaho. Long story short - I got tricked into going to Mark's house (I was at my sister Becky's house). Mark lived across the street from me for those who don't know. So we turn onto Shelley Ave. and I see bags of candles lining the entire street. We get closer to our houses and I see poster boards with things like "this way to eternal happiness" written on them and I start freaking out. Then, sure enough, there's Mark in the middle of the road and right after I see him my brother-in-law pulls a rope and a sign comes up across the whole street written on sheets "Will You Marry Me?". At this point I'm still just ecstatic that Mark is there so I get out of the car while it's still moving and run to him. Then he sits me down in this chair, knocks the candles off the table because he's shaking so bad, and asks me to marry him. I only remember some of the things he said because I was in shock but it was a great night and a fabulous memory.

Do you think I was happy? =)

2. Our first time playing at the beach and in the ocean together. Never in my life did I think I would get to experience the things that I got to by choosing to marry a Marine. I think I fell in love with the ocean almost as quickly as I fell in love with Mark.

3. The day he moved his things and I moved my things into our first apartment and they became our things. Mark was halfway to L.A. to pick up our couches and when he got my voice mail that we were in California at the apartment he turned right back around and came there. I was walking out of the apartment and he came around the corner at a run, saw me and yelled "Babygirl!" and picked me up in the biggest bear hug of my life. I love that memory. We were both so excited to be starting a life together we could hardly contain ourselves.

4. Our trips. I couldn't pick just one. Every time we go on a vacation together it is the best time of my life. From the big things like our honeymoon to Nauvoo and our 1st Anniversary cruise to Catalina and Ensenada, Mexico to the small trips like me going to see him in St. Louis, MO when he was stationed there for four months or the "babymoons" we have together before we have a new baby. I love it all. And it's simply because I get to spend time alone with my favorite person in the whole world.

5. Our talks. Mark and I can talk for hours about any given thing. I have a particular memory of one of our talks though that I love. When we were dating we drove to gem lake and sat there and talked in my car. I was referring to the gospel and I said, "If you had the greatest thing in the world wouldn't you want to share it with everyone?" Mark replied "No. I would want to keep it all to myself." I looked at him kind of confused as to why he would say that but he told me later that he was talking about me. I don't know why but I still think that is so sweet. The romantic in me. =)

6. The jeep. (Mark's was way more decked out then this one but I couldn't find a picture of it.) I know it sounds silly to have such fond memories of a vehicle but this red jeep is really what brought us together. I wanted a ride in it so bad that I sucked up to Mark until I got what I wanted which started our life long friendship which turned into much more. When we were married we used to drive down the coast with the top down and I can still picture the palm trees, smell the salty ocean air and feel Mark's hand in mine. It was the most fun I've ever had. I remember the day we had to sell it very clearly. =(

7. The look. I have lots of memories of this. Every once in a while Mark just looks at me with this look in his eye that I can't even describe. He does it often enough that I don't forget, and rarely enough that it still makes me tingle all over when he does. I feel like the most special person in the whole world when he looks at me like that - especially because he does it at such random moments: like when I'm being a lunatic and laughing hysterically at something silly or doing every day things like playing with our kids.

I can't believe how fast seven years has gone by and how amazing it has all been. Mark is not at all who I thought I would marry but he's been better for me then any guy I could've ever dreamed up. I could not be more grateful that our anniversary's will never have an end. I loved you then Baby, and I love you even more now. Happy Anniversary.