BUMP: March 29th

Our engagement story is probably still my favorite of all "our" stories. I love that it happened nearby; a place that I drive past at least once a week. I smile every time I see those two intermingled trees at the top of that field. I love that it occured on Good Friday. I love that it was unique and TOTALLY unexpected. I love that it had some funny elements, some unplanned occurances. I love that its uniquely ours alone. Daryl knew me well even then. He knows me even better now. And I still love every detail about that day. And I love him more than I can ever express.


I'm so thankful that some things never change.
 
 
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Every couple has their story.

Every story is unique and special.

Ours is definately no exception.

March 29th is a very special date for us...it is the date on which:

Daryl drove me along a dirtroad on the back of his motorcycle

...and detoured through a field of soybeans.

He parked the bike

in the middle of a cornfield,

on top of a hill,

at the base of two special trees,

got down on one knee and spoke the words,

"Mandy, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

To which I responded

"Of course!"...

...and, eight years later, my love for him has grown like those two special trees.

Bigger.

Stronger.

With roots intermingled in God's soil

Creating a firm foundation.

Weathering life's sun and storms

Together.

I can't imagine my life without him. Nor do I want to!

After all, one of my favorite places to be is driving along a dirtroad on the back of his motorcycle...

Happy Birthday, Maddo!!

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY to our sweet, little niece Madison!  She is such a blessing and I miss her dearly.
Maddo's entrance into our lives =) was one of the best memories I've had. This post with pictures sums it up perfectly!

Maddo Maddo, you're the best! Aunt Mandy, Uncle Daryl, Brayden, Savannah, Ava Grace and ESPECIALLY Phia miss you and love you so much!

A couchful!

Since I rarely capture a photo with all the "Tribe" at once, I thought I would entertain you with the following:

The older ones...10 kids in 4 years. Hmmmm, is that a record?

Same shot, another angle. You can see some of the personalities coming out in this one =)

And now for The Couchful.

A true Couchful...all 13 of them...6 years and younger. Now, I'm thinking that that MUST be a record of some type!

And before you ask, let me answer for you:

1. NO, we wouldn't have it any other way.

2. Christmas at Gramma & Grampa's is no different than any other time we all get together--fun, a bit crazy, full of laughs, some tears, LOTS of love, and, yes, a wee bit crazy!

3. My kids think that every one of their friends is their cousin because every one of their cousins is their friend. That makes for alot of interesting conversations around here =)

4. NO, we absolutely DID NOT plan to all be pregnant at the same time, almost every time. It was never even discussed. Thank you.

5. NO, there is nothing "in the water" around here. But if you'd like to try, you're more than welcome. I pray you're blessed as much as we are/have been.

6. YES, they are all ours.

7. NO, we're not crazy and we don't need any sympathy.

8. YES, we've actually joked about having a family-only sports team...a few years down the road. And I would like to think that we'd be pretty good =)

9. YES, Gramma & Grampa think that they are all the best things to ever happen. And each of them knows it both individually and collectively!

10. And thank you to every person in the grocery store, at the mall, at the park, in the restaurant, etc. who has poured out the blessings upon us every. time. we. are. out. in. public. by saying, "Wow, God bless you." The LORD has actually blessed us greatly and we try not to take that for granted!

Now I leave you with one question: Why does everyone always ask about Christmas??

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"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him."

Psalm 127:3  (NLT)

Be still my heart

One of my all-time favorite shots of Phia. Every time this photo pops up on Daryl's iphone, I melt. These years are going by so very quickly! I pray every day--even in the midst of chaos--that I treasure each moment, each giggle, each kiss, each grubby little hand, each tear, each picture-just-for-Momma because all too soon it will be gone and they'll be grown.

Daryl and I enjoyed a few laughs today reminiscing on the difference a few years makes. Nine years ago March 3rd, after a fun-filled day at the Whitaker Science Center in Harrisburg, Daryl asked me if I would like to date him. I replied, "Sure. I'm game." I knew that night that I would marry him. Sounds crazy, I know. But true. Even after our one-and-only fight when all seemed to be lost, I still knew in my heart that he was it. I knew that God had put us together from the very beginning back in 1997. And I've never been more thankful for anything in my life.

I may sit one day and write "Our Story" if for no other reason than I'm a romantic, I love reliving our dating days, and its a great story...and I'm certainly not biased or anything.

I think the biggest reason to write it is its a personal testament to the hand of God at work in my life.

Every time I think of Daryl, I thank God. Our realtionship is a personal reminder of the blessings that come from seeking and following His will for my life. Its a blessing that I do not take for granted.

So here we are nine years, eight in business, seven (and a half) married, six kinds of crazy, five+ acres of our heaven-on-earth, four kids, three moves, two people still crazy in love, and one dog later and I don't want to take a moment of it for granted.

After all, Daryl's famous line to ask me to date was "if we left college and never gave us a chance, he felt he'd miss out on a golden opportunity"--I couldn't agree more. There is so much I would have missed. I'm simply grateful that "missing out" wasn't a part of the plan!