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A few weeks ago, I spent some time looking back over the scrapbook of our first six months of marriage, and what a joy it was to relive some of the sweetest memories from those early, early days together.
This week I tumbled through the
second scrapbook – and on the first page, I wrote these words: The second
half of the year was even busier than the first. Oh, Bekah. You just wait.
Time is about to flee 1000 miles an hour and you won’t even be able to hang on!
Here are some of my favorite
throwbacks from that six-month span:
*Our first
movie! Yes, we were married seven months before we ever saw a movie
together! We went to the drive-in to see Monsters University. It was the
sweetest date. Ryan made a nest in the back of the car – with pillows,
blankets, pizza, coke cookies, and popcorn. We had a front row seat, and it was
perfect.
*That whole
month of July was just crazy. In about three weeks’ time, I went to two baby
showers, we had the movie date, visited friends at a campground, went to the
fair (twice), marched in a parade, worked a golf scramble, went out to dinner
with my college roommate, spent a weekend at the lake with Ryan’s family, and marched
in a second parade. I literally had a gallbladder attack in the middle of all
the stress and busyness. The events were all fun, but I couldn’t even breathe.
*The fair
visit brought about my first gondola/Ferris wheel ride. I had always wanted to
go, and Ryan made it happen. (Twice, actually, since the first time, we had to
share our little car with some kids.)
*The lake
pictures were bittersweet. Seeing Allen and Nita there in the boat, smiling,
made me remember how great those early lake weekends were. I’d never been part
of a lake family before, and I really loved it.
*One of the
parades was in Celina, Ohio. Who could have known that one day, years down the
road, Celina would be a regular date night destination for us!?
*The Sunday
of our lake weekend was frigid. We were bundled up in coats on the rainy morning,
but we went to the beach area in the park to pray and read Scripture together. That
was the weekend we felt called to ministry as a couple! I’ve never forgotten
that exact spot in the shelter house, bundled up in coats in JULY, realizing
God had a specific plan to use us.
*We did multiple
house projects in that six-month span and put together a time capsule to hide
under the stairs. I am so glad we did that. It was fun! (I wonder if the new
owners have found it yet?)
*Part of our
house projects included landscaping the front of the house. This is when I
learned that when Ryan said, “I’m borrowing a truck from Allen,” he meant a
DUMP TRUCK, because I am now part of a family that owns things like dump
trucks. I also loved it that my dad showed up (unannounced) to help Ryan work.
It was the first time Dad reached out to offer help to Ryan like that, and I’ve
never forgotten it. The relationship they have now was forged in moments like
that one.
*I can’t
forget our first cruise! Lots of firsts for us on this one…first flight
together (Ryan slept), first time in the Caribbean (for me), first time on a game
show (for Ryan), and first time on a private, deserted beach. I’m still glad we
made it back to the boat safely after that one. I read the other day that
cruise lines now do not recommend leaving the port area in that location.
*We
celebrated a year of engagement with BBQ out for our meal – and Cookie Cottage
cookies for dessert. Those were a nod to our wedding day, when we had some to
hand out to our friends and family who were part of the party. We didn’t know we
would come to purposely celebrate our engagementversary every year after that!
(Look at us setting traditions!!)
*We went to visit our friends Frog and Jenna for the weekend – and had no idea that down the road, they would come visit us every single year and we’d start going to a marriage conference with them.
*Nita took
our pictures that fall, establishing our annual tradition of Christmas card
photo shoots. She took them right on the lawn of their beautiful cabin!
*We hid in a
closet during a tornado that ripped through Marion. Hiding in a teeny closet –
WITH A CAT – during a storm is an adventure.
*Our first anniversary
trip took us to Indianapolis, where we saw Sandi Patty every single day we were
there. (We had the same itinerary she did, apparently.)
*I loved
this memory that popped up in the scrapbook: “I saw an idea on Pinterest to
recreate some of your wedding photos on your first anniversary.” Those very
first recreated photos are cute, and I didn’t know then we would keep it going…13
years strong now!
*Some
traditions change over time, and I found one of ours that did: Christmas
shopping. That year we drove through a treacherous snowstorm (passing many cars
in fields) and did our Christmas shopping in person! It feels like many years
ago now, that shopping was a day-date in person, but it’s sweet to look back at
it.
*This was
the year that our Kansas family surprised us by showing up for Christmas. NO
ONE knew they were coming and they just rolled in the driveway on Christmas
day. That was SUCH FUN. It was the first time they had been home for Christmas
in 12 years!
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