3 years and counting...

I realize I've become somewhat of a horrible blogger...don't worry, I do realize.

With summer and photos and family and visitors and this and that and everything else I suppose my documenting has hit an all time low. Sorry to disappoint. I know you've been waiting on the edge of your seats ;-)

However this could not get looked over. As of yesterday I've been married for 3 years. When I say three it sounds old-like a toddler. But when I think about my marriage it doesn't surprise me? I kept telling Chris, "But I feel like it's been SO much longer!?" Take that as you will but I found it a good thing. I guess I just feel like we've known each other forever. Like we were meant to be from birth and have just been betrothed ever since. We've been together, at heart.

We've been together through a lot of things. That first year of marriage was not the easiest for us and I will be the first to admit. I remember people telling me "don't get disappointed. The first year is the hardest!" well pooh on you I thought. YOu have your worst year and I'll enjoy mine! My marriage is bliss...then passed the first year and I thought-ahhhh, take a deep breath. One down :-) It was a hard adjustment at best and we were going through a lot of things (that sounds dramatic, mostly just adjusting to living with the opposite sex and combining families) Albeit we made it, and we were better for it. How's that for honesty.

The second year was a match made in heaven. We had figured it out-we were on top and doing swell. We had trials, but we knew how to deal with them in the BEST way possible and Chris quickly learned to always apologize. Bless him all the days of his life for this quality. I still admire him for it and will for always and forever. It is something I strive to work on continuously. We moved apartments in provo to an area that we absolutely loved, made friends that last a lifetime and made some of the greatest memories ever. We called it the "shoebox." it was a two bedroom attached home right next to campus with no air conditioning in the dead of summer. Come to find out...the misses is pregnant. We spent that long summer with no air and no room to move in slight misery, but were glad to have laughed it off together. Chris would massage my feet at odd hours, place damp towels all over my body in the middle of the night and get me water when I needed it. Needless to say he was a gentleman of sorts and he is completely amazing.

That second year we had our littlest angel. Eliza Ann Johnson, nothing short of miraculous. When the doctors told us we'd been having an emergency c-section because she was breech we were completely taken back! But not to worry-we pressed forward without a moments hesitation and while for a moment I lost track of my sanity-Chris was there. This is a memory that has been burned in my soul. I just remember Chris sitting there with me, holding my hand through it all and telling me to look in his eyes. "Don't lose me" he kept saying. Every time I looked at him, I was in my safe place. Unafraid, courageous, strong, bold, motherly even...And then she came. That blessed angel baby who has changed our lives forever. Our sweet little Ellie. God bless her name forever and ever. She is our princess.

Since then we have tackled some pretty big bears. Within a month of babies arrival, we graduated from college (I took my finals the week after she was born thank you very much!) packed up the shoebox and rolled out of town. It was an emotional time for me. My family was going through so much at that time, I had just had a baby, and was leaving home for the first time. Needless to say I don't know that I will ever be such an emotional train wreck again-or let's hope not! But we did it. We made it to California, just the three of us. The first 3 months were hard. I missed my family. I ached for them even. I remember calling home on holidays when I couldn't be there because Chris was working and just sobbing. Nordstrom was unkind in the sense that the hours were NOT forgiving, nor was the pay really-for a family of 3 in southern cal. Let's just be honest. It was a difficult time for us. We had to do some real adjusting and Eliza was...well let's just say she wasn't the happiest. At a mere 5 pounds and 11 oz. I fear she was just too small to be alive, let alone be happy! So we had a lot to work out.

We worked it out. After fasting, praying, working our fannies off, long sleepless nights, early tired mornings, nights alone, weekends alone, birthday's missed and holidays gone-Chris found a new job. It wasn't an easy road for us. Nordstrom was all we had ever known and truly it was great for a time. But times changed, and we had to move on. In this tough economy we were scared for our lives of finding something new, but the Lord knew we needed it-and we were blessed. Chris and I just clung to each other after that, thanking the Lord and praising his name for our sweet blessings, the biggest being each other. We needed each other, desperately. We realized that growing up and starting families was what it's all about. We were big kids now-with real jobs, and real babies. We were doing it. We were living the dream.

Well the dream doesn't end. Here is year three to us. We are still at the beginning. Our dreams are still forming, our goals are just being set, the bar has just been raised and there are more dreams to be had! More babies to protect, more plans to make, more love to be shared. Every moment is a perfect one, and I mean that in the most tender of ways. I realize we are not perfect, far from it in fact. But I also believe that everything happens for a reason. It's the optimist in me. I don't think a moment goes unnoticed without God's handiwork which makes me believe we should live with no regrets. I truly believe every moment is a perfect one. Good, bad, happy, sad, ugly, honest-whatever it may be, it was meant for that moment and we need to make of it what we will. I'm so glad to have someone who makes the most of it with me. I can't even begin...there are no words for my husband. My Chris. There's just no words. He's just mine. My forever. My perfect.

Happy 3 years to us my love. You'll always be my perfect.

I was more than impressed when Chris brought HOMEMADE chocolate covered strawberries to our little ocean view promenade. He never disappoints. We enjoyed an ocean view dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (pf changs, i'm so original) and then he brought his little treat for dessert. He's so thoughtful that way. He came home early from work and made them at his mom's house to surprise me, and nevermind the 2 dozen roses. He did that too... He's my man.

I love him.