Top Ten Greatest Hits

Today is our 7th anniversary. 7 years? Is that right? I can't believe it's already been 7 years. As I was lying in bed last night trying to fall asleep I thought about some of the defining and most memorable moments in our 8 years together (our wedding anniversary also happens to be the anniversary of our first date, the year before). So without further ado and in no particular order, here are our top ten greatest hits:

1: The few days leading up to our first date. Oh, the anticipation! There was *something* in the air and I just knew he'd be asking me out soon and that it would change the world. In those few days we had snowball fights, 3 hour long chats on the internet, caught the other staring several times and made up lame reasons to "need" to stop by the other's apartment to borrow something or another. I think I had butterflies in my stomach for days.

2: Our first date. We watched movies and ate pizza and since we didn't want the date to end we went on a walk around campus, in the snow. It was freezing but we didn't want to go home because we knew we wouldn't see each other for 2 weeks. Finally, Brent gathered up the nerve to hold my hand and we walked home, shaking from cold with giant grins.

3: Our first kiss. Brent didn't want to kiss me until he was sure we were serious and that he loved me. This, I did not know so I spent the first month of our courtship waiting, not so patiently, for a kiss. It was worth the wait and it was hilarious. We had spent the evening with my roommates and girlfriends watching movies and it was time for him to go home. I walked him outside and shut the door behind me. We stood talking for a minute and then heard my friends inside singing "Kiss the Girl" and I could tell they were taking turns peeking through the peep-hole. We moved a little to be out of sight and then he kissed my cheek (to "test the water" as he says) and then it happened. The shortest, most awkward little peck you've ever seen. And we were both so embarrassed we just said good night and he hurried down the hall as I hurried inside. The next afternoon, as we were sitting on his couch, he told me that he loved me. I was so surprised that I think my response was "me too".

4: The proposal. Most of you have heard the story already. Here's the short version: He had an internship over the summer in Washington DC (my favorite city) so I went to visit him for the 4th of July (my favorite holiday). We walked around and saw sights all day then at the FDR Memorial, in front of a stone waterfall garden, he popped the question. I said yes, we hugged, I cried, we kissed, passers-by smiled. Then moments later, as we rushed down to the waters edge, the fireworks started. And in case you were wondering, fireworks look really cool reflected in a diamond ring.

5: The wedding day. Obviously. So much happened that day and a lot of it I don't remember but I do remember sitting in the temple, holding hands thinking "Yes! This is *it*! What I've been waiting and preparing for my whole life. And boy, am I lucky. How did I score this guy?" My mom said after the ceremony when we were getting ready to walk out of the temple, Brent was sitting at the end of the hall waiting for me to come from the dressing room and as we were walking towards him she saw a look on his face that said more than a thousand words could. She says she could see in his eyes how much he loved me and knew right then that we'd be happy forever.

6: The first year. We had no clue what was going on because we were lost in a haze of newlywed bliss. We both had full time school and 2 jobs each but it didn't matter. We barely saw each other but it was so fun to be playing house for real that we didn't care. Our apartment was tiny and most everything we had was hand-me-down and we were far past "broke". We taught the Sunbeam class (3-4 year olds) at church and would occasionally splurge and go to Wendy's for the dollar menu for date night. It was everything I'd ever dreamed of, only better.

7: The day we found out Brent got the job in LA. We were at Sonic trying to decide what food to order. It had been a long few months with several phone interviews and flying all over the country for job interviews so we had been expecting a call from any one of the companies at any time. The call lasted about 1 minute and I couldn't hear the other end of it, only Brent's half. I wasn't sure exactly what was going on until he hung up and said "I got it. We're moving to LA". I don't think we even ordered food. I think we just went straight home and started calling our families. It was so exciting and scary. Just the 2 of us, in a big, crazy city, far away from family.

8: The time Brent saved me from a bear. Ok, it wasn't a bear it was a drunk lady but still. Back story, I LOVE camping and we used to go every year with my family in California (can't now that we live here but anyway). The problem is I have an irrational fear of bears so I'm super paranoid and make Brent sleep on the side of the tent with the door. (Because bears use the door?) One night, I woke up to Brent yelling in the deepest, scariest man voice you've ever heard, "Who's there?!? What do you want?!?" Then an obviously confused, drunk, and now scared lady apologized and found her way back to her own campsite next door. It was hilarious and also educational because I didn't know Brent had a scary voice. I think it would have actually scared away a bear. His side of the story is that he awoke to scratching on the tent and thought "Oh great, Emily was right, bears do try to get in tents" but then realised that they were looking for a zipper and that it must be human. But, being half asleep, he couldn't control his volume and his thoughts came out loud and threatening. What a good Papa Bear he'll be.

9: The day we found out we were moving to London. I was cooking dinner and Brent walked in the door of our apartment and shoved a packet of papers in my face. He didn't say a word, just stood there waiting for me to read it and react to the news. I'm pretty sure we went from shocked to running around the house like little kids that found out they were going to Disneyland or something.

10: Travels. We adore travelling and have several memorable road trips to see family or as romantic getaways. He's surprised me with trips and I have for him. I emailed Brent and asked if he had anything to add to our list and both things had to do with travelling. We walk, a lot. And not just because we live in Europe. From our first date, we have always taken long walks to talk or to get from point A to B or to take in the scenery, and as Brent says, "they don't even have to be on the beach" Sometimes these walks are planned sometimes they are a result of poor choices and sometimes they are to save money or to avoid crowds. Some of these walks have been like on our honeymoon when we got on the wrong bus to get back to the hotel then the buses stopped so we had to walk 5 miles, on Christmas Eve night, with out a map through downtown Houston. Or our date night walks up and down the hill to Universal City in LA. Or when we walked the cliffs of Dover in the pelting rain. Or when we walked through the hills of Scotland with Cami & Luis for amazing cliffs and ocean views. Or walks with our nieces and nephews along the lake in the mountains where we camp every year. Or the waterfall hike in Wales with Molly & Andy that was twice as long and hard as we planned it to be, but still worth it. We love to see the world and sometimes it's fun and sometimes we have to wait a few months or years to laugh about it.

As I look back at those young kids jumping in with both feet 7 years ago, I don't think they could have imagined all the experiences and stories and tears and laughs and sleepless nights and exhausted sunday naps and doctors appointments and miles and crappy hotel pillows and photos and passport stamps in the following years. I just hope we have just as much fun in the next 7.

Happy anniversary to us!