Anniversaries

For some reason, I've been thinking a lot about anniversaries lately. Maybe its because of all the wedding anniversaries in the summer (i.e., Nathan and Rachel, Ben and Sarah, Alex and Nicole, Blaine and Linda, etc. you get the picture). As I was thinking about anniversaries, and as September approaches, it always makes me reminisce.

About this time six years ago, I was heading back to my second actual year at college (although I was already a Senior). I had gone home for about three weeks at the end of the summer and as the time approached for school to start again, I remember a night out on Mom and Dad's porch when I knew something big was going to change for me that year. I like to say that I didn't know what was going to change or have some inkling or suspicion. I think I would have just been in denial and absolutely terrified if I had let myself feel what was going to change. The feelings were so strong that I actually considered not going back to school because I was scared. Sure enough, something big did change. September 15 is the six year anniversary of the night I met James and September 28 is the six year anniversary of when we got engaged.

Naturally, thinking about those anniversaries leads me to think about December 23, our wedding anniversary, and there, my nostalgia takes a nose dive. We haven't had the best track record with our anniversaries. Let me explain why.

Dec. 23, 2003- our first wedding anniversary. What a milestone of achievement. We went to St. George, ate at Fazoli's, and then went to the temple to do sealings. There was another young couple there and she ended up not feeling well, so they left early and we hung in there and finished all the names. On the way home, we stopped twice for me to throw-up and we spent the next couple days with food poisoning. Thank goodness for LDS neighbors who don't object to giving blessings late at night.

Dec. 23, 2004- I was 7 1/2 months pregnant, and that just kind of dampens the romance, just a tad.

Dec. 23, 2005- I was still nursing Liahna. I think we managed to go out for dinner, but by the time we were done eating, I needed to go home. Sometimes a momma needs her babies as much as the babies need their mommas.

Dec. 23, 2006- I had a 1 month old baby. Need I say more?

Dec. 23, 2007- Our fifth wedding anniversary, so special, right? Two kids, no baby sitters, but I guess this one could have been worse. We celebrated with a date a couple days early, went to dinner and a movie, had our picture drawn by the little portrait thing at the mall. Peter broke the glass in the frame we bought before we'd had it on display for a whole day.

Dec. 23, 2008- Our upcoming sixth anniversary. I'll have a 2 month old baby. Again, that should be self explanatory.

Maybe what our anniversary streak has taught me is that those days that help us remember are special and important, but really only because they help us remember. Every day should be a special day as we contemplate our loved one and each day we should attempt to appreciate them as much as we do on our anniversaries. It's kind of a "why can't every day be like Christmas" thing.