Happy Anniversary!

Today is a very special day for me and my husband. We are celebrating our 10 year anniversary! Every anniversary is special but this one means so much to me. Not only are we celebrating double digits, the fact that we have stuck it out for this long (through many trials and hardships), but this last weekend my wonderful husband surprised me with a vow renewal ceremony!

He planned for 2months, contacted everyone special to us (including people who we have lost touch with or haven't seen in a long time) and invited our whole church without me knowing. I admit, I became a little suspicious about a week ago but never did I realize it was going to be this big, this intricately planned, this wonderful. He worked with the staff at our church and planned a "End of Summer" event as a cover up. Then he planned a Women's Ministry Meeting to get me away so he could get everything done (and so I would dress up).

So after the meeting we went to the church for the End of Summer event. Except no one was outside. Someone said they were going to start out in the sanctuary. So after going to the restroom (I drank lots of water at the meeting :) we walked into the sanctuary. As soon as I walked in, I was given a beautiful bouquet of flowers by my mentor and friend and was lead to my dad who was waiting for me in the back of the center aisle. Everyone was looking at me! As I was walked to the front of the church I saw the bridal party- some stood up with us the first time like our wonderful friends who drove 3 1/2 hours to be there, 1 was a great friend who didn't come into my life until a couple years after our wedding, and 4 were my beautiful children. I cannot tell you how special that was to me. And then I saw my husband to be...er...husband to be again;) And my heart melted. I couldn't believe he did all this for me! I will never cease to be amazed at this man's heart and his desire to express his love to me and make me happy.

The ceremony was wonderful. Our two pastors (and great friends) officiated. We took off our rings and recommitted our vows to each other. I even had to giggle at the "for richer or poor" part. We have been through the ringer financially but even as I type this, tears are streaming down my cheeks because I am the richest girl in the world. I would choose to do it all over again because I know that we are who we are and have the marriage we have because of all those hardships. We have grown up together (literally and figuratively) and God has blessed us so much along the way.

Back to the ceremony, like I said, this thing was intricately planned...from the picture slide show going in the background to one of my closest friends playing our song on piano as I walked down the aisle (which I have to admit I didn't even hear because I was a little in shock). My beautiful and extremely talented sister sang the very song she sang at our wedding, and yes, I cried both times around. He even had the guest sign our sign-in book from our first wedding!

Afterwards we made our way outside and had dinner (which my wonderful parents catered) and had fun talking and mingling and celebrating. It went so fast and I was exhausted at the end of the night, but wow, what a night! I will never forget it as long as I live. I have to honestly say, this time around was so much better. The first time I was 19, had a baby, and had no idea how to be married. I was selfish, and thought that a marriage was suppose to be self-serving. Needless to say, we had a rough first couple of years! This time around I could confidently stand up and express my love for him and my commitment to him. I want to do everything I can to make him happy. I can't begin to describe how much we've grown in ten years. I keep thinking that if it can be this good now, I can't wait until the 20th!

Brad, thank you so much for surprising me with a 2nd wedding. I loved every second of it. I am so glad you chose me 13 years ago at that football game and stuck by me through thick and thin. Every night just before I let sleep find me, I thank God for giving me the best guy in the world. I am truly blessed to be your wife. I know that God shows His unfailing love for me through you. Every smile, every hug, every whispered "I love you" before we fall asleep is a reminder of God's goodness in my life. May we never stop growing, never stop trying, and most of all never stop loving.

Always and Forever,

Sara

Here's to 10 years babe! I love you Truly Madly Deeply! Speeking of our song...click here