My Anniversary

since I will be out of commission on my real anniversary, I am going to do my post now. Our 9th wedding anniversary is July 16th.

July 1999

July 2008.

What a difference 9 years makes. I have gone back brunette. He has aquired a grey goatee.

Some stuff I have been asked will be answered in this post.


Yes, I am that person that saves stuff. I have a zillion movie ticket stubs from when Michael and I started dating in 1999. I don't think anything came out that we didn't see. The prices (some as low as $3.75 for a 7 o'clock movie) are crazy. Wish things were still that way.

I started dating Michael in 1998. I was 19. He was 28. The frequently asked question I get about this is whether or not my parents had a fit. The answer is no, they did not. He was such an upgrade from the worthless loser I had dated before him that age was not an issue. My parents have always loved him.



I have also been asked "why July 16th" and that answer is pretty pointless. That date was one that Michael threw out one day when we were at the Lake with friends, and I held him to it. That's why I was married on a Friday night when most people are married on Saturdays.

We were engaged in March, and married that July.


Me, of all people....had NO wedding photographer. I have snapshots, and that's it. I regret that in a huge way. We were married in Wilmar, at Wilmar Baptist Church. My daddy gave me away, Bro Kenny Worbington performed the ceremony, and Destiny Boone was my maid of honor. The best man was my brother in law, Randy. The flower girl is Ashlyn Jones, and the ring bearer is Trey McClain.

This card is funny to be because he was sure to not say "love" in it. Just plain ol' thinking of you and that's it. It's from my 20th birthday. Both of us had been in terrible relationships prior to meeting, and the L word wasn't thrown around loosely.

That was okay, cause I had a man in my life that loved me, just like I do now, my daddy :)

That was in October. By December, he told me he loved me, and to this day he swears it slipped out and he meant to think it, not say it. I think this is hilarious because I had been out to keep him for quite some time. I actually told my guy best friend that I had met the man of my dreams the very night we met. I was just really sneaky about not telling HIM.

Our honeymoon was actually just a weekend in Hot Springs. We stayed at the Majestic, which suited me fine because I was on cloud nine and we might as well have been in Hermitage. The location didn't matter at all at the time.

Look at this nice pre baby belly. Flat as a board.



We also took a trip to Branson. I love that I married one of those dorks that takes these kinds of pictures.

oops I had overlooked a pic from the honeymoon, and I have to add it. Why I am taking a picture in the bathtub, I don't know.

Shortly after we married we took a weekend trip to Albert Pike. It was really nice, and I would love to go back. This was the end of our child free life, and kid free vacations.



It quickly became known to us that we were going to be parents really soon. Jordan was born 3 months (12 weeks) prematurely, weighing in at just 3 lbs. 19 months later, Karsyn was born 9 weeks prematurely. Shortly after that I required surgery. It was a rough first three years!

We began our married life in a 1987 trailer that ALL three of the Smith brothers lived in. I could not have been happier to bring my baby home to it.

We later moved to town, and didn't like it. We are back in that very spot the first trailer was in.

But now he tells me he loves me without hesitation. In fact he even writes it down on stuff where he knows I will find it.

So now, 9 years of marriage later, we are a family of 4. A chance meeting on KFC parking lot in Warren is how I met this wonderful man that I am lucky enough to call my husband. Who woulda thought it? (maybe Rosjuane, since she was there, too)

and let me throw in, my best friend Rosjuane's anniversary is July 16th as well. Here's a pic from her and Brad's wedding (in Hot Springs)

So head over to her page in a couple days and wish her a good one!