Our Anniversaries

It may sound a bit funny -- but at the age of 26 I have already been married 3 times -- TO THE SAME MAN!! My husband, Jon, and I started dating in 1996, when I was just 16. In December of 2001, Jon asked me to marry him and we began planning our wedding for June 21, 2003. Everything was going according to plan. The following January(2003), I sent out about 150 carefully made "save the date" cards to friends and family. Since then, I have learned that there is no such thing as "saving the date" when you are in the army.

That same January, I made my first trip out to Colorado Springs to visit Jon and help him move into the new townhome we had bought. My trip was supposed to last for ten days, just enough time to celebrate my birthday before I traveled back to Michigan. The day after I arrived, Jon received orders to deploy to Iraq. Although we didn't know at the time that he would be gone for an entire year, we figured that he probably wouldn't be back in time to make our June wedding. So, on my 23rd birthday, I got the best present in the whole world -- a husband!

Even though it was just three years ago, I only remember bits and pieces from that day. I remember Jon calling me from work in the morning and telling me that he would pick me up on his lunch break at 11:00. We were going to get married!! We were both a little nervous on the way to the courthouse, but very excited! I had not a doubt in my mind that this was who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. It felt like I had been in love with him forever! We ended up at the El Paso County Clerk's office, where we paid $10 for a marraige liscence and certificate at the same time. The ceremony basically consisted of us swearing that we were who we said we were and that we were not being forced into this marraige -- not terribly romantic! And Jon was able to kiss his bride while the clerk went to make a copy for us.

Our Wedding Day -- January 28, 2003

Needless to say, even though we were "legal," we still didn't quite feel married. I mean, we hadn't said any vows or anything like that. Plus, our parents missed out on the most special day of our lives! Later that weekend, both sets of parents came to Colorado Springs to say goodbye to Jon, and we organized a little ceremony so that we could say our vows to each other and in front of our parents. My parents had surprised us with a night at the Broadmoor (a SUUUUPER fancy resort here in the Springs) and we decided to hold our little event in front of the fireplace in one of the sitting rooms. Jon's best friend and roommate from West Point, Dan, "officiated" for us. This one was definitely a bit more romantic. We had our ceremony, took some pictures, and then had everyone up to our room for champagne and wedding cake (which I made myself -- thank goodness for those cake decorating classes from Michael's!!).

Our Second Wedding Day -- February 1, 2003

So by now we felt officially married, but we didn't want to give up that big wedding that we had planned at home! (I know I know -- ALRIGHT ALREADY -- right?) Well, I wouldn't give up our third wedding day for anything in the world. By the time this one came around, Jon and I had been married for about a year and a half. We weren't nervous for the ceremony at the church, just excited to be able to celebrate our marriage with all of our loved ones! What an amazing feeling to walk down the aisle in my wedding dress and watch Jon's face! And then to stand up there and look out at all of the people who were there to love us and support us. It was completely overwhelming. I know it sounds incredibly cliche', but this we absolutely the best day of my life.Our Third Wedding Day -- June 5, 2004

In honor of our third anniversary, I just want to say that after three years of marriage and many months apart, my love for Jon continues to grow and grow. I am so blessed to be married to a man so full of integrity, honor, and tenderness. I am so proud of him that sometimes my heart feels like it is going to burst. I would marry him another three times if I could.