do you remember

i'm an anniversary person. i love anniversaries and i remember them to such a degree i sometimes wish i could lessen that ability so that i could remember other, sometimes more practical things. but i think remembering is so important so no, really i don't want to move those dates out of my mind. {we'll pick up milk next time we're out.}

some significant dates that stand out to me...

my family's birthdays.

because i love them and i love birthdays.

february 11.

tim's birthday {and also my grandfather's birthday - they always had a special connection because of their birthdays and the military}

october 9.

silas' birthday {and the day i had a baby}

and then the chronological portion of my memories...

late august, early september-ish 1998.

i must admit this is the only date that is a little hazy. only later did i know its one i would want to remember so clearly. i officially met tim when he came into my flower shop.

august 2-3 2001.

when tim and recognized outloud that we were more than friends.

september 11 2001.

because tim is a marine, we knew our lives would be changing.

december 10 2001.

tim got his orders that he was leaving on his first deployment.

december 25 2001.

our christmas morning engagement.

january 19 2002.

i cut 12 inches off my hair and donated it to locks of love - this is something i had wanted to do for a long time and i wanted tim there with me when i did it so we did it earlier than planned.

january 21 2002.

tim left for his first deployment.

june 13 2002.

tim came home from his first deployment.

december 14 2002.

i graduated from college, although i wasn't there. i was at my wedding rehearsal. they mailed me my diploma.

december 15 2002.

one of the top 3 days of my life. i married my best friend.

march 1 2003.

we got tim's official orders that he was leaving for iraq after months of scuttlebutt.

march 13 2003.

early morning at the airport. reporters. cameras. tears. unknown. tim was wearing jeans and tennis shoes {no chacos allowed}and a three buttoned shirt. i was wearing his jacket. the most real breaking of my heart i've experienced in life so far. yet, peace. tim leaves for iraq.

may 3 2003.

someone egged our car, focusing on the marine corps sticker.

august 10 2003.

tim came home.

august 15 2006.

we moved to russia.

october 9 2007.

we met silas for the first time!

june 21 2009.

we moved back from russia.

there is so much life in between before and around all these date markers. i don't lessen anything of those by listing these. these were just specific anchors that influence the time between them.

i think we are supposed to remember and celebrate dates. the happy and the sad. because it all contributes to who we are. it all has a lasting effect. it all shapes how we experience and feel everything from that point forward.

in the book of joshua in the bible its talks about making a pile of stones to remember what happened here so that when your children ask you, you can tell them what GOD did. in backpacking or along hiking trails and on the tops of mountains or at the end of climbs or many other places there will often be piles of rocks or markers called cairns. they can be a monument, mark a summit, or be there to help us remember. 

tim and i have built two cairns so far in our life together.

one in greece just before silas was born.

and one in colorado when we got home from russia.

we have pictures of these cairns in frames around our home.

we feel like its important to remember.

so here's to remembering that 8 years ago today i graduated from college, but i wasn't at that ceremony...i was at the rehearsal for my favorite ceremony ever...

i love you tim and i'm so thankful for all the life we've walked through together and all the life we have to come!

happy anniversary eve!

xox