8.29.2008

Tin or aluminum

"The thought of our past years in me doth breed perpetual benedictions." - William Wordsworth.
Tin or aluminum is the 10 year anniversary gift. I guess that's what 10 years of marriage is worth! My husband and I have been married for 3,650 days today! Wow - doesn't seem very long when I look at it in days... Yep, this year is the big 10! Why is 10 years such a huge occasion? Why is it more important than other years? Not sure about that - but I've been convincing myself it IS important because I want to DO something special this year. Reality check - My husband just started back to school (for his executive MBA) AND he's still working full time, AND he was just called as Young Mens president, AND I'm Relief Society president, AND my photography has been super busy, AND we have a family to raise. I think I'm kidding myself to think that we're going to have the time to do ANYTHING spectacular this year. But you know what?? Doesn't change a thing - not ONE.SINGLE.THING. about how I feel about my husband and our life together. It's very literally been the best 10 years of my life... so far :)

We were married on this day in August (it was a Saturday 10 years ago) in the Cardston Alberta temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. From the world's perspective we would be considered young. I was 19 (and a half) and my husband was 21 - freshly home from serving a 2 year mission for the Church in northern California - Lao speaking. For all my life I knew I wanted to be a wife and a mother. There was no question. Even during school when my thoughts would drift to different career choices, like being a teacher or Veterinarian (my two careers of choice then) deep down I wasn't really committed to having a career because I KNEW how much being a wife and mother meant to me. While attending my youth activities I remember thinking about how THIS activity would prepare me for when I was a wife and mother. I remember the guys I'd hang out with - basically evaluating them, their behavior, their goals - knowing that out there somewhere my future husband was making choices, behaving a certain way, living a certain life. It was the bulk of what I thought about, especially as I got older (if you can call being 19 older - LOL!).

I remember writing a list of exactly what I wanted in a husband and father to my future children. Little did I know that my future husband was out there right then developing those exact qualities. It was funny because I was reading through my old journals and on February 11, 1995 - my VERY FIRST DATE EVER was actually at my hubby's house. I wasn't on the date with him, it was with another great guy I went to school with, but it was at my hubby's house. LOL! Fate? Hmm... not sure :) I do feel that the Lord orchestrates things so that we could find each other. In a journal entry dated March 16, 1998 I had been considering moving from my city of Calgary to Lethbridge - a city about 2 1/2 hours away. I was feeling very confused at what to do, and even while praying, I could receive no clear answer. I wrote
"There must be something out there waiting for me. I can feel it every day. I don't know if I'll find it in Lethbridge, but I know it's no where around right now. Through prayer and constant vigil over my thoughts and actions, I have faith that I'll end up where I'm supposed to be."

Okay, folks, this is where I get the goosebumps. My future husband was leaving his mission in Calfornia that day, and arrived back in Calgary on the next day March 17, 1998! Interesting, isn't it? A couple of journal entries later, I first mention hubby's name! In the same entry I wrote about how I had been praying for specific things, My exact words were

"Please help me find someone who I like, who will like me in return. I'm interested in someone who is strong in the gospel, someone who can encourage me in righteousness. I know I'll eventually find someone, I just have to try to live the way I know I should and trust in the Lord to take care of the rest. It's easier said than done, though. I'm not a patient person, to say the least!"

LOL! Little did I know, the Lord was working out a perfect solution to my problem - Lyndon! My very next journal entry starts out like this:

"I had the BEST time today. If you can believe it, I was out with Lyndon Grunewald!...Lyndon is very, very good looking, so needless to say he quickly became a celebrity with the other girls at work. (which was oh, so true!) In fact, when he first started working at the mall, the girls were telling me about this new security guard who was absolutely gorgeous! At the time this was going on I had no idea that Lyndon was working at the mall, so I didn't show much interest in what they were saying. At church last Sunday, Lyndon asked me if I worked at the Bookstore in Sunridge mall. I said, "Yes, I sure do! How did you know that?" (He had JUST gotten home from his mission) He told me that he'd been working at the mall as a security guard. Of course I was able to put two and two together and realize that HE was the one the girls at work were talking about..... We've had some really awesome conversations..... he asked me if I wanted to do something with him tomorrow, seeing as we both had the day off. Of course I said yes!"

That was the start of a beautiful relationship. You can see how smitten I was with him right from the start. He captured my heart immediately. Later, in my journal after I wrote about our first date, I wrote:

"I had been praying to Heavenly Father for a friend. A friend I could be comfortable with, and I could hang out with. Someone I liked. Preferably a GUY! My prayers were answered far more accurately that I had ever hoped they would be. I don't deserve such blessings, but I am grateful for them. Who knows? Perhaps Lyndon and I will become far closer than I'd hoped. "

10 years and four beautiful children later and I'm still as smitten as ever. He is someone who gets better and better as each year passes. I'm not sure my heart is big enough to contain the love I feel for him. He truly helps me be the kind of person I want to be - encouraging me, laughing with me, loving me. I think of him as my blessing sent from above - very literally. Yes - 10 years is something to celebrate, and I can't wait for the next ten!

I made this little fold out 8X8 folder thingy for my husband for our anniverary. I was inspired by the August KOTM and got creative to make my own out of chipboard, cardstock, black duct tape, and scrapbooking embellishments. He loved it (and so do I). It was so fun going through old photos to decide what to include.





15 comments:

Lindsay Bateman said...

Beautiful tribute and congrats on 10 years of pure wedded bliss!! I am getting married in approx. 20 days and hopefully one day I will be able to look back on my 10 years of marraige like you! Congrats!

Sarah said...

Happy Anniverary! What a sweet post! I love your blog! Your family is absolutely gorgeous! Your husband served a Lao speaking mission?! How cool! My husband is Laos and his brother served in No. Cal around that same time (1998) Hmong speaking. Cool, huh?!

juliette pouwer said...

the 'scowling pic' is priceless. You should enlarge it and frame it for your family wall :D
Tin or aluminum? I think 10 years of hard work deserves something more exciting than that :D

Lynn said...

What an Awesome and beautiful tribute! You guys are the best. Congrats on 10 years. Here's to MANY more years together......right into eternity. The crowns you are are So appropriate. However, let's hope those frowns or scowls are a forever thing. LOL! Too cute.

I am going to show Candi this post of yours. I think this will do her (19 and a half- year old) heart a WORLD of good.
One just NEVER knows what is in store for each of us around the corner.

Amy said...

we just celebrated our 9th anniversary, on the 28th. I can't believe how quickly it's all gone. 9 years, one beautiful boy. a big move to the Edmonton area later, and like you, I am loving every minute. Cheers to you and Lyndon. I hope you anniversary was everything you hoped for, and I pray that your next 10 years are even better.
Amy

Jenn said...

How cute is this!!! Oh my gosh I love this--- submitt this one!! Its a winner! Congratulations on 10 years! You guys are as cute today as back when you were first married! Very cute!!!

Clair said...

Congratulations- you have much to celebrate! Your creations are beautiful. :)

Unknown said...

Bobbi-Jo, I love your work! You come up with some just off the hook projects!

You were the Scrapbook Page of the Week at Card of the Week.com. You can see the original post here.

I did use a picture from your post, with links back to the site and the original post. I hope that is OK. Please feel free to email me if you need me to change anything.

I also have an “I was featured” on badge for you if you want it :D

Thanks again for sharing!

Erica said...

Congrats on 10 years! It's nice to see a couple enjoying their marriage at that stage instead of simply enduring it.

Anonymous said...

What a completely wonderful project!

Kim said...

Happy Anniversary :) Such a sweet tribute!!

Mandy said...

Congratulations to a wonderful 10 years. You and Lyndon are such great examples to all that know you.

Rachel Berry said...

De-lurking here, I have been reading your blog for a while and have to just say THANK YOU! Your tutorials have been so helpful. I just used your Selective Color Tutorial On a post that I did on my blog. I had done the selective color thing before but had forgotten, so thanks for the reminder.
Your photography is AMAZING! I am a photographer wanna be. I try my hardest to take great photos but it doesn't always happpen. I need to get a new lens for my camera & Photoshop CS3 and and and....There's a never ending list. Oh well one of these days.

Again thanks so much and hope your Anniversary was a good one! I love the 8x8 book you made it turned out great!

:)Rachel

Tee said...

Love the book you made...great colors and fabulous photographs..

Happy Anniversary girl!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing such personal thoughts... you were so spiritually mature when you were young!! :)

I wish you both another blissful (despite all the challenges!!!) 10 years!
Thanks for always being such wonderful examples to me!