15 Years Ago, One Month From Today

I've been looking at the date all day ~ on the calendar on my fridge, on my

desktop calendar and on my cell phone.

Tonight though I was thinking about how wonderful it is that we're fifteen years

later than what June 26th, 1994 meant.

June 26th, 1994 meant that we were one month (and counting!) until our wedding.

June 26, 2009 has not been filled with quite so many so many flutters or detail planning, instead I've been coupon clipping, baby feeding, cookie making and carpet spot cleaning. I've cleared my desk and took Emily to her 9-month well child check up. I have paid some bills and registered Melissa for two sessions of swim lessons.

I still tried to suck in the moments I had today to spend with Kurt ~ he was home for about 2 hours this morning....long enough to mow the lawn and get frustrated with his boat hydrolics. I am hoping that we might sneak out for a McDonald's $1 soda and some catch up conversation when he gets home.

15 years later, my heart still skips around a bit when he gets home.

15 years later, we are kept company by five incredible "tax deductions". That's four more than I thought I'd have when I dreamed about my life as a kid... I have to admit that sometimes I threaten my children with the "ok, which four of you have to go?".

They know the joke ~ and that it is in fact, a joke.

15 years later, I am glad we aren't newlyweds anymore. There was a time when I ached for our wedding day again. But then, after about three years and after attending a friend's wedding, I realized that we'd been through too much to want to go back to that again, as wonderful and as perfect as that day was.

15 years later, I still love to write "Mrs. Maryhelen E. Freeman", and sometimes I take a second to look at the ring on my left hand, holding my hand up to fully admire how it looks. I love how it looks!

15 years later, we have grown together in every area of our life. One of the advantages of marrying young (he was 21, I was 19..) ~ learning and growing up together. We could never have wished or dreamed or planned on some of the things that have helped us to grow. Joyful things and painful things. Isn't it incredible how that works.

15 years later, he's come home and run out to take advantage of the last few minutes of daylight and what he might do with his boat. Not before a hi and a kiss though.

15 years later, I am still a very lucky girl!