Ten years down...the rest of eternity to go

Today is the ten year anniversary to the day I said "I do" to the man I love.

We met at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Institute class/singles ward in the fall of 1998.

He saw me wear a sexy skirt (giggles) and give a talk in sacrament meeting with my shoes off, I saw him wearing a bright yellow Adidas shirt and having fun after institute class one day.
Then, I got a crush on someone else, he was hooked on another girl, blah, blah, blah.

Finally, I figured out I liked him.

Then, a little bit after that, HE figured out he liked ME. (Took him longer to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but he saw it!)




It took us One Reel Big Fish concert, $135 worth of Godiva chocolate, and planning a luau to get it all together, but once we knew we were destined to be together, we knew.

Being 19, I might not have went about springing this on my parents just the right way.

Instead of maybe having them meet the "pierced tattooed freak" (my dad saw him once or twice before) a few times in casual settings, we went straight for dinner with an appetizer of "Ma'am, Sir, I have only dated your daughter for a few months but I love her and we are getting married." Talk about a lot to digest!

Plans were made, marriage licenses for Dallas, TX were purchased, finals were shifted around (and some even waived because the professors knew I really cared less being that my wedding was on the last day of finals and I had to drive eight hours to get to the temple), and cars were borrowed (that's right, we got married CARLESS...we did get one right after getting married, but we said "I Do" without a way to get home.). The dress was lovingly crafted by my amazing mom, each pearl sewn into place. The cake was also created by her...thus pushing her into the world of cake decorating...a place where she has learned and grown and thrived, now having her name be as common as Browen and Duff.

The rest, as they say, is history...

I'd love to include some super fantastic pictures of our wedding day or reception the following week, but alas, the pictures were taken with a 1 megapixel digital camera (cool beans back in '99) and are too fuzzy to share. If I can find my favorite taken by Bart's aunt, I will take a picture (cause I'm so cool, I don't need a scanner) and post it here.

So, now you know.

And Bart, thanks for picking me. I love you and can't imagine spending eternity with anyone else...we've made some cute babies and had a lot of fun along the way. In good times and in bad...we've stuck it out and I am so grateful for all you do for me and our family.

Love you forever!