November 6 was the fifteenth anniversary of the day Jason and I met.  I had it in mind all year, and had planned to get him a card…nothing too special, just an acknowledgment of the the date and a thank you for all he brings to my life.  That was two days after his job ended, and the day got lost in the emotional shuffle.  I was a little sad and disappointed when I realized, but it is, after all, just a date on a calendar.  (Besides, it’s only five more years until I can recognize the twentieth!)

December 19 was the fifteenth anniversary of our first date.  We had planned at one point to go out that evening…dinner at the same restaurant (where we have traditionally gone for our wedding anniversary), a show.  Just like that first night.  It wasn’t in the cards this year.  Instead, that evening was spent in another of our favorite pursuits – dinner and cards at our best friends’ house.  We don’t see them nearly often enough.  It was wonderful.

December 29, 1997

December 29, 1997

Yesterday, December 29, was our eleventh wedding anniversary.  (Holy cow.  Look how young Jason looks in that pic!)  We celebrated by interviewing Realtors, grabbing Chick-Fil-A with the boys for dinner, going to Nicky’s karate class as a family (instead of my usual preference: divide-and-conquer), playing our new favorite family game (Whoonu; more on that another time), and receiving word that Jason is definitely going to be flying out to Seattle for an in-person interview.

It wasn’t our usual anniversary celebration, by far.  One of the sets of grandparents typically takes the kids (which fell through this year thanks to a horrible stomach virus in grandparentland), and we enjoy dinner out and maybe a movie.  Last year, we went to North Carolina for a long weekend, toured Biltmore, etc.

I’m very content with our eleventh anniversary, though.  I can’t help but feel excited at the changes happening for our family, and everything seems to be moving forward in a “just right” manner.  There will be time and money later for evenings out and gifts exchanged.

I love you, Honey.  Thank you for everything.  Happy Anniversaries.