To be continued part 2

So when I left you yesterday I had just learned my husband had something up his sleeve for our anniversary.....

Since we were married for 13 years he planned to go to 13 different significant locations that played a key part in our lives together. I know what your thinking...how sweet not many men think of doing something so meaningful. I could not believe my husband thought of it either.
stop #1 Mike's high school where we met at a basketball game. I was cheering and he was playing for the opposing team.

stop #2 was my old high school. Mike came here to a wrestling tournament the day after we first met each other.

stop #3 my child hood home.

stop #4 Mikes child hood home.
stop #5 was Winsteads restaurant. This is where we ate on our first date.

stop #6 was a hang out of ours in high school. Mike worked here and I would hang out and wait for him to get off work.

stop #7 was a place called "Leaps and Bounds" Mike and I worked here together after High School.
stop #8 was Mike's Aunt and Uncles house. Mike asked me to marry him during Thanksgiving dinner with all our family around.
stop #9 was the first house we bought together a few months before our wedding. And where our 1st child was conceived.
stop #10 was the church we were married at.
stop #11 is where the first of our 3 children were born.
stop #12 was our second house we bought and where our 2nd child was conceived.
stop #13 is our present house we live in and where our 3rd child was conceived.
At the end our journey down Memory Lane. It was a lot of fun and one of the best anniversaries so far.

To be continued...

Since it is our anniversary today and money is tight in our household, I really did not anticipate anything. My husband just came to me and said "We were leaving the house at 4:00 and to take my camera". "What"? I have no idea what he has planned. I have been told over and over again that it is nothing special, but just the fact that he has something planned it special enough to me. I have asked so many questions hoping to get a clue... "Are we leaving our town"? "Do I need to dress up"? "Are we going to be outside"? "Why do I need my camera"? "Are we driving a long way"? "Will we be back late"? All I get is " We are driving a ways" "No you do not need to dress up" "I hope we will get there before dark" "Don't get your hopes up, it is nothing special". So to be continued tomorrow..........

The year was 1996

13 years ago at this very minute I was walking down the aisle in a white gown meeting my groom at the alter. I can remember the day like it was yesterday, the weather was in the 70's and the sun was shining bright. My mom was a single mom so my wedding was done on a budget. We used artificial flowers and made the bouquets ourselves, my dress was only $500.00 and the cake was not over the top. Wherever she could save money she did. Looking back I loved my wedding and would not have changed a thing.

I woke up early with butterflies in my stomach, this was the day I was to be married. My bridesmaids were off at the salon getting their hair done, meanwhile I was at home getting everything ready to take to the church. Later in the day I would realize I left behind the petticoat for underneath my dress.

Once at the church my bridesmaids showed up with their hair done and we all started to get dressed and beautified. I had many visitors peeking their heads in to say "hi" and give hugs of congratulations. Now from the beginning I always said "No wedding ever starts on time" and sure enough when I went to put my dress on, my petticoat was not there. I remembered exactly where I left it at home, having the wonderful family I was marrying into, they graciously rushed to my mom's house to retrieve the petticoat. Needless to say the priest was not happy about the delay, but I was not about to walk down the aisle with a non- puffy dress. Once the petticoat was retrieved I walked down the aisle 30 minutes late.

One hour later we were finally husband and wife. Looking back on our 13 years of marriage I realize I love my husband more now than I did 13 years ago. We have had our share of ups and downs but it has made us stronger. We have made so many wonderful memories in the past 13 years and I look forward to making more memories in the next 13 years.