FIFTEEN YEARS!

April 17, 1993


Scott and I were married 15 years ago today! It was a beautiful day...even for mid-April in Minnesota! God SHINED on us by giving us a sunny 70-plus degree day...one of the first of the year. My Dad took me out for breakfast that morning and he said, "God made this day for you!" Ironically, the Hymn board in church read, "This day was made by the Lord." The church and reception hall were full, with our guests numbering approximately 420 of the 507 people invited!

For those of you who know Scott and me, our fifteen years of marriage...and the eighteen years we've known each other...have been filled with many ups and downs. Scott's history of cancer as a child, carrying through to two separate cancers in the seven months before our wedding...one six weeks prior to our big day. Scott's strength and determination to endure six months of chemotherapy starting two weeks after our wedding. The side effects he suffered as a result of the chemo and the side effects he stills struggles with as a result of his cancers. Our struggle with infertility...including two miscarriages. The wonderfully amazing arrival of Parker on December 5, 1998. Parker's diagnosis and immediate treatment of cancer in April 1999 when he was four months old. Another wonderfully amazing arrival of Faith on October 20, 2003 (instead of her due date of December 1, 2003). Faith's diagnosis of cancer on October 22, 2003, when she was just two days old. Her first round of chemo when she was four days old and then for the next eleven months. The radiation she received on both of her eyes just before and right after her first birthday. The fight she still continues with her most recent doctor visit being very positive!

Yes, there have been challenges in Scott and my years together but oh, the joys that we've experienced, too! We have learned there is nothing we can't do with God on our side. We've "grown up", we've grown spiritually, we've learned and grown as parents, we have amazing family and friends. We've had and apartment and four houses in three different towns in Minnesota. This town and this house are "home" for a long time! We joke about how many cars we've had in fifteen years...thirteen to be exact! The jobs have been many, the best one for me taking place right now as a stay-at-home wife and mom! We've watched our children grow to the wonderful little people they are today with many, many more years of learning and growing for them...and us...yet to come! Parker and Faith are the joys of our lives and we cannot imagine being parents to two more amazing children!

The constant throughout all these years has been love...God's love and our love for each other. It's been quite a ride so far and I hope the ride continues for a long, long, long...very long...time! I'm so proud to be Scott's wife and I hope he's proud to be my husband.