4 Years

4 Years Ago today we started our life together. We made a huge lifetime commitment to one another and trusted that the person we were standing next to would honor that commitment and was worthy of our trust.

This is one of my favorite wedding pictures. It wasn't one of those posed smiley, kissy pictures that everyone does. This was where we started. Sure, we had the big wedding, we had the reception. We spent 18 months planning the wedding and the marriage. The wedding was the first day of many. This picture shows us truly starting out. As soon as we left that reception - life truly began as husband and wife. We'd done our homework, now it was time for the test.

When I think about the past 4 years, a lot of life has happened. We've had some truly amazing memories that will last a lifetime and we've also had some really difficult times that we grown closer through.

The good times are awesome and fun! The not so good times have tested our relationship and fortunately we have grown closer through those days. We still face many good days and many hard days as we continue on through life together.

Some of the best of memories:

This past year we have spent preparing for the next great adventure. In 1 short week we will get on a plane and go to Africa where we will meet our son and bring him home!

We know this will be another wonderful memory that we will cherish forever. We also know that there will be serious trials we will face in the next year. I have often heard that the first year after adding a baby to the family is often the hardest year of marriage as once again the marriage must adjust to changes. We are preparing now, and know even as tough days are before us, that we will grow closer together.

The first four years have been amazing! We've struggled through 2 years of college and REALLY celebrated when it was behind us! we've bought a house, sold a house, bought another house. We've struggled and waited to bring our first child into our family and will celebrate in one week as that dream is fulfilled! We've dealt with a job change, a layoff, a new job and most recently switching over to a one income household! We've traveled - multiple times to our favorite Disneyland, Disneyworld, Jamaica, and several weekend getaways and in this coming week we will travel all the way to Africa!!!

We have lived life to the fullest in these first 4 years and year 5 is looking to be no different. As I can see ahead into this 5th year of marriage, I am excited! We have some awesome things planned for this coming year! I think every year of marriage has been amazing, but this year is going to be truly special for our family!!!

BabyMoon

This past weekend we took advantage of our last open weekend before Baby Malachi comes home and left town for a few days.

We headed down to Central Oregon to Eagle Crest Resort for a couple of nights for our final hurrah just the two of us before a baby joins us on our vacations. It was fun and hot and very relaxing.

We went for an evening walk down into the canyon and talked with a guy who had 2 schnauzers. The one schnauzer was off in the bushes spying on the deer. As we continued on our walk we saw several deer standing in the bushes around us. We spent some time in the pool during the day. It was so hot out that the only thing we could handle in the heat of the day was relaxing in the pool! Peter made a very very yummy steak and buttery mashed potato dinner - yum! We didn't do anything to exciting - just spent lots of time relaxing which is just what we needed before embarking on the adventure of our lives to Ethiopia to bring home our son.

The next few weeks are going to be very busy. We have Peter's birthday next week and Old Fashioned Festival too. We also have our 4th wedding Anniversary coming up the week after that and then we hope to be leaving for Ethiopia. We don't have confirmed travel dates yet but we are hopeful that we are just 3 1/2 weeks away from picking up our sweet son! Lots and lots to do in the next few weeks. Unfortunately I picked up a nasty sore throat and cough while we were on our babymoon and I have been very worthless today. Hopefully it will pass soon and I can get started on my very long to do list.

Half A Year

As we look back on to the first half of 2010 we are not exactly where we thought we would be. The first 6 months of this year have not been what we expected. The definite highlight of the first half of this year was seeing our son's face! We were hopeful that we would have that little guy home before July hit, but adoption never goes as expected and so we continue to wait.

As we look ahead to the next 6 months as we finish 2010 we are very excited about all the things that lie ahead! Our 4th wedding anniversary is just around the corner and it won't be long before little Malachi is home and we can start our lives as parents. It is going to be amazing and we look forward to everything that the next 6 months hold. Here's hoping for an incredible final 6 months of 2010!!!