Happy

Four years ago, I married a young man I was head over heels for. Our wedding day was busy. I remember waking up and being so emotional. I cried as I walked down the aisle and took Daniel's hand. My bouquet was heavy. There were so many friends and family members at the reception that I didn't know where Daniel and I would sit down for dinner - what a treat! We danced the night away, then said goodbye the following morning as we headed to Colorado for Daniel's last few weeks of work. I was super excited to finally live in the same city and state and to be under the same roof. No more airport goodbyes! We'd spent a long couple of years apart while Daniel worked in Wyoming and Colorado. Three weeks after we married, we moved our life to Houston and enjoyed apartment life, local friends from high school and college, getting to know the city, new jobs, finding a church home and loving on our Honey girl.
These photos were taken by my sweet friend Lynsey Kramer.




The first year of our marriage we moved, honeymooned in Mexico, watched it snow Easter weekend, I became a school teacher, we traveled to Washington DC and Ruidoso, New Mexico, and decided to build our first home. We made some incredible friends and spent valuable time with our families. 2007 treated us well. January 6, 2008,  we began a tradition of taking photos of ourselves and our family on each of our anniversaries.


Year two of marriage began well...we moved into our brand new house, celebrated as more friends and family members married, were thrilled to see my business grow, met friends we know we'll love for a lifetime, rejoiced when Grandma Sue was a liver recipient, watched Bek graduate from high school and HanBan graduate from A&M - CUM LAUDE, and spent some time traveling with family. Then Emily went to Heaven and life seemed to turn upside down. The man I knew to be my best friend stepped in, held my hand and carried me through months of life I don't even remember living. I know I checked out, and I can't express enough gratitude to Daniel for being so amazing to both me and my family. Year two continued...several of us girls got tattoos, more friends married - we were busy!, a hurricane came through Houston and we needed a new roof on our house, and we spent Christmas away from home - tucked into a hillside home in Tennessee.
January 6, 2009


Year three of marriage consisted of the miracle cousin Ella Grace, more success as a photographer, Daniel's first MS 150, swine flu knocking us out of school for a week, having to put down two family dogs, traveling to Europe with my love - BEST VACATION ever, sending Grandma Sue to Heaven, welcoming Lily girl into the world, celebrating a few more marriages and more busyness at school. We were in much need of prayer by the end of 2009 and are so thankful to the dozens of people who called out our names to the Lord. He has been so good to us.
January 6, 2010


Year four...began with prayer and hope, Daniel rode in the MS 150 for the second year in a row, more sweet friends and clients were married, I turned my life back over to God and found victory in so many things, we got a new bulldog puppy - Harley, traveled to Vegas to celebrate 5 years since we all left Aggieland - hands down most fun time ever, we found out we were pregant!!! - such joy!, all of our other friends got pregnant too, Lily turned one, we spent some great time relaxing with family over the holidays and rung in the New Year with such anticipation to meet baby boy Parker in 2011. This last year, I learned that my husband developed into a man of God - full of forgiveness and grace. We became better friends than ever before and our marriage is in a place that it has never been. I'd say that I'm more in love with Daniel today than any other day in the past. I am so grateful. I can't wait to meet our son and begin life with him.

Pregnant on our anniversary!

I almost lost it...we've never tried to take a picture of the 4 of us before. I think I may need to enlist help next time.

My precious family...I am so blessed.

Four Years & Four Friends

Somehow God "arranged" for us to all marry within a week of one another. Coincidence, I think not. It has been so special to meet married couples that are in the same place we are in life. They are our source of strength and encouragement. They remind us of the promises we made years ago and help us face the future ahead of us. Most of all, they are who we have fun with. Grant, Jen, Jim and Liz are our dearest friends and our Houston family. To celebrate 4 years of marriage, we ate at Fogo de Chao and then had ice cream and coffee afterward.