Our 10 Year Anniversary!

Posted by Chandra April 02, 2014

Our 10 Year Anniversary!

We made it! I can't believe it's been 10 whole years since we were sealed together in the San Diego Temple. I really can't! Where has the time gone! I remember thinking that by 10 years we'd go to Europe to celebrate and I'd get that diamond upgrade. 10 years seemed like such a long time, such an accomplishment! But here we are!

I feel totally the same! Yes, I'm probably a little less spazzy but I still feel like we are trucking along. We, in no way, have anything as figured out as I thought we were going to! And that's ok! We are still on this crazy adventure called life! We are not settled down in the least bit!

We've lived in 7 different places, 4 different states, we've had dogs, fish, and a bunny. We have 2 kids and 3 in heaven. No gray hairs yet but I'm seeing some wrinkles! Ah! Our camera's have upgraded. So have our pant sizes. But that's ok, too! :-)

We still like to watch movies at home all snuggled up on our couch with a bowl of popcorn. We still love candles burning everyday. And we still love each other! That's the big part! In fact, I dare say we are more in love today than we were 10 years ago! Maybe not as hyper and all over each other. But our love has refined and deepened.

I remember walking into the sealing room and seeing our parents and loved ones. Lisa Braithwaite and Barbara Cook... just to name a few. I remember our wonderful Sealer, president Clawson. I remember kneeling across the alter from Tanner so exctied for our special day and the covenants we were making with the Lord. I'm still learning about all that those promises entail. Our marriage HAS to last forever so I can fully appreciate and learn all that Heavenly Father has covenanted with me!

I remember taking endless pictures with Chett at the gorgeous grounds of the temple. Little by little everyone left but we stayed and snapped away. Chett had to leave the reception early so we took as many as we could.

The reception was at the Custance Castle and it was extraordinary. We had 7 boy curry for dinner and before we could take a breath our guests started arriving! We got stuck next to the front door and made a kind of impromptu "line". I didn't want to have a formal line, I preferred fluttering around the castle greeting our guests. It worked out perfectly!

I remember holding Abby, just a wee child, on my lap and not wanting to let her go. She was, ans IS, so special to me. Even Emily was able to miss school that day so she could watch me come out of the temple. I love the Braithwaite's!!!! I remember we didn't have a DJ (one of 2 regrets) so we had a mixed CD on repeat! Jon took the mic and was, as usual, the perfect person to take the lead on toasts and sweet sentiments. We danced a little. Didn't cut the cake (my other regret) but sweet Garrett brought me a piece. And by 9pm Tanner was literally dragging me out the door! I wanted to stay! The party was still hopping but I guess he had other plans.

I remember thinking that your own wedding day is not as fun as being a guest as someone else's because there's so much to worry about and finagle! Hello, I was 19. Maybe if I'd been a little older and more mature I would have been a little bit more realistic. ha ha It was still the best day ever and I can't help but to look back on that fabulous day and smile.

Poor Tanner was so worried when we drove away from the reception in the rain and I started crying. Oh no, he thought, what is happening! But I was filled with so many emotions. Mostly happiness. But a little sadness for leaving my single, carefree days behind me. A little scared to be a wife and the responsibility to take care of another person. And the fact that he now has the responsibility of taking care of me! I remember thinking that my Dad must have a lot of trust in Tanner to send his baby girl off with another man. I cried as I reflected on the sacred ordinances I participated in earlier that day in the temple. I cried tears of gratitude for my parents, my new parents, my family and new family, my friends, my husband, and my Savior. But, together with Tanner, I wiped those tears away, grasped his hand, and never let go.

So, here we are 10 years later. Crazy.

Our anniversary happened to fall on a Wednesday this year and we are in NorCal in the middle of job training so we didn't plan much- as far has an exuberant celebration. We are planning on spending a night at the Blue Lantern when we go down South for Spring Break (it's were we spent our wedding night). Tanner sent me 2 dozen of the most magnificent red roses! It was so very thoughtful and romantic of him! They reminded me of the roses he used for his proposal to me. A friend offered to watch Parker for us so we could enjoy a nice dinner out. We went to our "go to" favorite, Cheesecake Factory. Yum.

Ten years later and our day was spent quite differently than 10 years ago. But the love and devotion is there and growing by the day. We have 2 perfect children who have brought more joy to our lives than anything we could even have envisioned. I'd take a movie at home and a bowl of popcorn with my little family over a trip to Europe any day. :-)