15 Years of Wedded Bliss

It has been bliss.  But it has also been work and compromise and growth and help and kindness and love and learning.  Fifteen years seemed like so long back in 1996.  I couldn't even fathom the number.  I remember introducing ourselves in our BYU married ward and saying we'd been married 2 months, and it seemed like forever.  It's been a little longer than that now and I can still say it has flown by.  I'm grateful for this man I married.  He has taught me so much by his example, his kindness, his willingness to work, and even by his stubbornness.  (I don't think his family believes me when I say he's stubborn.  But, like most other things, I'm right about this:)  I think what I have learned most from being married to Zach is to give myself a break and to let myself learn and improve step by step, instead of expecting it all at once.  I so appreciate his faith and his determination to do the right thing.  Here's to you, Zach.  And here's to another 15 years of growth and learning and bliss.

June 14,1996:

Family of 3-- Christmas 2002:

 Family of 4 -- Summer 2004

 Family of 5 -- Summer of 2005:

 Ten years together -- Summer of 2006:

 Family of 6 -- October 2008:

 Date night -- Fall 2008 

 Family picture time -- November 2009:

Family of 7 -- May 2011: 

 15 years, 5 children, 9 moves, 750+ sacrament meetings, 13,500 diapers, 2 baptisms, 250+ work trips, 15 drives to SD, 25+ drives to AZ, 2 BYU degrees, and 5475 days together. I think I'll keep him forever.  Love you, hhbl.