Last night we went out looking for some coffee or good hot chocolate. We wanted a bit more than just hot drinks so we drove out to find a coffee shop with a menu. There's not a whole lot of options on a Sunday night and we ended up at Red Lobster. We are super spoiled right now to have Matthew stay home with the little ones and let us go out!!!
As we sat and waited for our food and coffees, we both tried to think of all our anniversary getaways. Eighteen is lot to try to remember and we started with our first anniversary in the hospital holding our precious first born!!! Hadassah was born one day before our first anniversary!!! What a gift of life!!! We went on one night getaways when Hadassah and Matthew were smaller. On our fifth anniversary we traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, for the weekend. Another year, we flew to California and spent a weekend in San Diego. Florida is a place that we went many, many times in February and saved some anniversary outings while we were there!!! The best, best anniversary trip ever was going to Belize for five days!!! This trip started out extremely difficult with getting a call from Mom Lapp while we were on a lay over in Atlantic and hearing the words "Dad has cancer". We stepped onto the land of Belize with heavy hearts because we wanted to be with Dad Lapps through these first days of hearing such tough news but we had our resort booked and we were going to make the best of the next several days!!! We really enjoyed our days there and spending those days focused on our marriage and refreshing our commitment to each other was energizing for the next difficult months ahead!!! When we got back to the USA, it was back to facing cancer head on and being there for Mom and Dad!!! We love anniversary trips away from home but this year it was just spent around a table at Red Lobster and enjoying each other!!!
Mike and I do a football weekend with John and Kathy every fall and this past trip may have been the best one yet!!!??!!! We walked the Cliff Walk in Rhode Island, toured Boston, went to the Red Socks Playoff game and watched the Chiefs almost beat the Patriots in football!!!
This was a fun trip every single day!!!
Mike and I have learned that the honeymoon stage only lasts awhile. Then living together really begins. We were in love, over and beyond!!! We KNEW it. We FELT it. We LOVED with all our hearts. And looking back I would do it all over again. However, there are a few things I've learned about marriage! To get married to the "love of your life" doesn't have to change that title as the years roll by. Love is that mystery where you thought you loved to the fullest and yet as days, weeks, years and even a decade later, our love keeps growing deeper! The only way I can explain it is like climbing a ladder. When you make your spouse your best friend in your life, it changes everything!!! For us, we can testify that some days are harder than other days. Some days you get upset because the toilet lid is up again or because he works too late or maybe because he seems to have lost that knight in shining armors armor. I've learned that even though those might be some facts, I have the choice to sit and pout or I can kindly remind him to close the toilet lid so the baby doesn't splash I can be sure that the house is a clean, safe haven for him to come home to after a long day at work. I can even shine up myself and look like his bride when we are together because if he thought I was attractive in those dating years, why would I ever want to change that in our married years??? Some days are rough. But that's life. It's a choice to make if you want to become best friends or just live together. Climb that marriage leader! Take the next step up to a better, brighter year!!! Mike has been a solid rock for me for 18 years!!! We had to learn how to communicate better. We had to go through some fire to be refined. We have to listen and not just talk.. We solve life issues together! His money is ours and the pennies I earn go in his change pocket. Hang on to your vows friends!!! Marriage is a gift! A gift your children want to see and learn from! Love your spouse more and deeper until those acts of kindness become natural!!! Thank you Mike for teaching me so much over the years! "I love you, Babe!!!"
My last 18 years of living with this man, have been stretching, fun, adventurous and a total blast!!! Cheers to many, many more years to share my life with my husband!!!
Happy Anniversary Michael!!!
