Once upon a time a boy took a girl out for a picnic complete with Subway sandwiches, flowers, and - the saving grace - chocolate covered strawberries. She tried to help him unload the blanket and he panicked because, of course, all of the beautiful red roses were stashed there. He nervously made it down on one knee, and though he was absolutely sure of what he wanted, the words that came out were no less shaky than the hand holding the gorgeous diamond ring. She was thoroughly smitten by love and couldn't help but eagerly agree to a life - an eternity - together.
Moral of the story? Always have chocolate covered strawberries nearby when something momentous is about to happen.
Like a few Mondays ago when it was our anniversary...Bekah was the first child home from school so she helped me make these chocolate strawberry beauties. Specifically she was a masterful "random white chocolate dripper." Then we made signs to hold up for Rus as he huffed the painfully uphill quarter mile to our house on his bike. (He bikes home from work every other day.)
We printed the signs out in parts just for comic effect:
(Bekah held these two signs just down around the corner from our house)
"We have traveled at least 35000 miles on the road together."
"Which means we've had at least 105000 interesting conversations."
(I wish everyone could travel with Rus. He is a talker. We have our favorite conversations that we always bring up on trips, like about our future plans, places we'd love to live, and how we can swing it to someday live in a small town.)
(Beau held these ones)
"I have watched you grow..."
"At least 300 inches of facial hair."
(Rus later googled the average growth of facial hair and was super disappointed that my number was extremely high; in truth I've probably only watched him grow around 75 inches of facial hair in the last 13 years.)
(Jacob held these)
"We have changed..."
"At least 17520 diapers"
"And at least 325 lightbulbs"
"In 5 houses, 3 cities, and 2 states"
(The diaper number is based on 6 diapers per day for 2 years for four children...it could be a little high, but even a low 2 diapers a day for 2 years for four children is a staggering 5840 diapers!!)
(Marianne and I held these)
"We have shared..."
"At least 9496 kisses in the last 13 years."
"Probably more like 18992 kisses."
"We have said 'I love you' just as many times"
"And I hope to say it at least 77380 more times"
(Upon later discussion and a flurry of kisses - not the kind that would make anyone blush really - we both agreed that this number is very low. What can I say...we like to kiss each other...)
When Rus parked his bike we led him to our own indoor family picnic. (It was HOT outside!) We served sub sandwiches, grapes, and, of course, chocolate covered strawberries.
We told the kids stories of dates that we went on, and how Daddy proposed, and our wedding day.
It was a really fun anniversary!
Here's a pic of us then...When Rus had less facial hair, I had a perm, and overalls were cool.
*sigh* I just love US!
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