Eleven Years

Eleven years ago today I married my best friend. And for the first time in eleven years, we are apart on our anniversary. I am "here" visiting my family and doing some last minute school shopping, and he is "there" at home working.

I miss you, Todd.

Here's a quick run-down of our years together:

1998- Our first date was on February 29th, we started seriously dating on May 10th, talked about marriage on May 17th, and Todd proposed on May 28th. We were married in the Logan temple on August 21st. Todd started school at USU, and worked at an inbound call center. I started working at a preschool/daycare center in Logan. We lived in "the little house" in Newton.

1999- I got called as a beehive advisor in Young Women, and Todd became the scoutmaster. We had an early miscarriage in May, and another at 11 weeks on the 24th of July. We spent our first anniversary in Park City, I started working as a computer specialist in an elementary school, and we flew to Washington for Christmas.

2000- We lived with my parents for a couple months while the bathroom floor was being re-done in "the little house". Todd started driving a bus for Logan transit, and Brayden was born on October 12th. I started doing daycare at home for two little girls from our ward.

2001- We bought our first van, took a vacation to Mt. St. Helen's with Todd's parents, discovered we were pregnant with #2, and I started teaching preschool at home. In the fall, I started working as an artist for Rebecca Wood Designs, painting needlepoint canvas.

2002- We missed the Olympics in Salt Lake because we were busy moving to Logan. Caleb was born on April 3rd. I was called as the "nursery coordinator" in our ward with 5 nurseries, and later became the Relief Sociey secretary. Todd was put in the Elder's Quorum presidency...I think. He still drove bus, went to school, and worked with children who had witnessed domestic violence. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was struggling with post-partum depression. Caleb started having seizures, we had to call the ambulance a couple times, and we went to Primary Children's for tests.

2003- This year is a blur for me. I discovered quilting, started working 2 days a week at Red Rooster Quilts and Treasures, and took out a loan for my own quilting machine. I got help for the depression, and "found myself" again through quilting. Todd got into the MFT program at USU, and Caleb's seizures finally stopped in August. In October I began quilting at home.

2004- In April we went to Washington for Easter, and found out in May that we were pregnant with #3. In October (on Brayden's birthday) I had my appendix out at 20 weeks pregnant. I found out we were having a boy when they were looking for my appendix in an ultrasound at 3:00 AM in the hospital. I drove myself to the hospital, by the way, and Todd will never live it down. He thought I had gas. :o) I was called as the ward choir director, and Todd became the executive secretary.

2005- Dillon was born on March 1st. Todd continued to drive bus, and also did psycho-social rehabilitation in Idaho, between working on his thesis. In the summer, we took a trip to Island Park with Michael and Becky, and met up with Todd's parents in Yellowstone. Brayden started preschool in the fall, and we started wondering about Aspergers Syndrome. Todd graduated in December.

2006- On Dillon's first birthday, we moved in with my parents for what was supposed to be four weeks, and it turned into four months. Todd got a job at Aspen Ranch, and we moved our family to the middle of nowhere and bought our first house. I became an Achievement Day leader, and Todd was called to Young Men's. In August, Todd's dad was diagnosed with cancer, and in October he passed away. We made two trips to WA, one to say goodbye, and one for the funeral.

2007- We did LOTS of house projects this year. Dillon broke his elbow in the spring. Todd got bucked off a horse. We had a miscarriage in July, and we bought our truck in October. We went to Washington for the one year anniversary of Dave's passing, and Todd and I were called to teach Caleb's primary class together.

2008- We started out our year with a new van. I spent a lot of time with Vanessa, whose husband was oversea's, and Todd fell in love with all things cowboy. In October, Brayden was baptized (when did we get so old?) and we suffered another miscarriage. In December, Todd was called to be the Sunday School Secretary, and I was put in cub scouts.

2009- This year has been good to us. So far we've visited Goblin Valley, the Grand Canyon, the Pacific Ocean, and Mt. St. Helen's, and have plans to visit a few more National Parks in the fall.

Eleven years ago I couldn't have imagined the joy or the pain that these years would bring.

Thank you, Todd, for you. For your strength, your kindness, your example to our boys, and for making me happy. I'm so grateful that our marriage is eternal, and that you honor your priesthood. I can't wait to see you tomorrow.

I love you.
-felicia