Loving, honoring, and cherishing

Whew, these last few days have gone by in a hurry. Working, celebrating our anniversary, spending a day in the sun with some friends, working some more, having to call in sick for work after catching a nasty bug, and getting ready to leave for our road trip TOMORROW. We'll start with July 20, which was my favorite day of the year because it is the day I said "I do" to the most wonderful man on the earth. 8 years ago. Seems hard to believe. 8 years. We've been a couple for almost 11 years. In all the best ways to say this, I just really couldn't imagine life without my man.

Our anniversary started off with a great morning and afternoon with some out of town family, and then we dropped the kids off at my parents and went to dinner at Claim Jumper and saw Star Trek at the Mt. Hood theater. It was really a lot of fun. There's not a better date in the world than my husband. I'm telling you, after 8 years, and in what should be one of the most difficult times in a marriage (little kids running around and some extra pounds hanging around) I am truly more in love with this man than I have ever been. God has blessed us incredibly. I can honestly say that for richer or poorer, in sickness and health we have been able to love, honor and cherish each other. That's not the easiest thing to do sometimes. In fact, most times it really goes against our nature; to be unselfish, servanthearted, and to forgive. But that is the picture that God gives us of marriage. The Bible tells us that God created marriage to be a representation of Jesus and the church. He loved the church, served the church, and laid his life down for the church. I pray Dan never has to lay his life down for me, but I know without a doubt that he would in a second. As I would for him. It really doesn't get better than that, does it folks?

So today will be another crazy busy day of preparations for our trip down south. The kids will probably make 203 unnecessary messes and unpack their bag a few times searching for a lost toy. Ty might find the grocery bag of snacks I have for the car ride, get them off the counter and feed them to the dog. Jake may whine all day long that he can't have a Capri Sun until we're in the car tomorrow. And I may forget to pack the cold medicine that's been saving my life the past few days. But all is well here at the Stump house. Tomorrow we shall make it to California to be with family we've been missing. It's good to have some perspective sometimes when you're down here in the trenches.

Two things I won't forget are my camera, and a new package of Dramamine. So one picture you won't be seeing is of Ty's vomit filled car seat. Knock on wood.