11 years ago . .

I know, it's the same collage as last year. But all my pictures are not readily available and I just don't have the gumption to go dig them out. Another year. Wow. I remember when we were celebrating our first anniversary, pulling that sticky, frost burned top piece of wedding cake out and trying to take a bite. It didn't go so well. All for the sake of tradition, eh? 10 years after that anniversary, here I am in the States and Spencer is in Baghdad. It's not the first anniversary we've spent apart. The second, to be precise. Our 7th anniversary I was visiting my parents in Nebraska and he was in Cairo. Though I got to see him 5 days later when we returned. I'll see Spence Feb. 3rd. For two weeks. Then he returns to the salt mines, er, work for another 3 months before I am graced by his presence again. Then another 2 week visit and another 2 months and then, he's done in mid-July. Then we get shipped off to Bahrain!

I can definitely say that we have kept the variety in our life. But I can't think of another person on this planet with whom I would rather adventure. Spencer and I have grown up together (in the adult sense) and I wouldn't change any of it. Yes, we were babies when we got married; I was one month short of 20 and he had just turned 22 five days before we were wed. We've learned, grown and matured alongside each other and I just hope we can keep it up for years to come! By my calculations, if we both live to 79 and 82 years respectively, we'll be able to celebrate 60 years married. And once we're gone from this worldly sphere? Eternity together. To steal a line from my parent's wedding vows, "Grow old along with me, the best is yet be."