flashback friday

A little jeopardy for ya ::

answer :: 1.6 decades, 5,842 days, 140,208 hours, 16 years -- long enough for :: 6 kids, 1 apartment, 1 house, 1 major remodel, 6 jobs, 78 birthdays (16 for me, 16 for Kirb, 13 for Jacob, 11 for Rebekah, 10 for Lydia, 7 for Joe, 4 for Anna and 1 for Sara), 16 Christmases, at least a half dozen er visits, 2 extra-long family road trips, 1 pet, 9 vehicles, 2 different centuries . . .

question :: what is, "How long have Shana & Kirby been married?"

Today marks our 16th anniversary! I love my hubby even more today then I did on that (slightly rainy) September day in 1996! Thanks, Kirb, for 16 wonderful years of being my husband and best friend (you've been my best friend for over 20 years now, actually!) our life . . . it's quite a crazy ride. I'm so glad we're on it together! I LOVE YOU!

I hope you all enjoy these pictures of 2 little kids who were (and are still) very much in love! If you were there with us on that day, thanks for stickin' with us through the years! Take a minute to remember the yummy leaf cookies, the VW bug convertables, the flower girl who fell asleep almost immediately after walking down the aisle, the slideshow of baby pictures (which wasn't something everyone did, back in the day . . . it was new & exciting!), the live 4-piece string ensemble, blowing bubbles in the rain and the miriad of really cute little girls who charmed all who were there . . . just to name a few things. If you have other Carlson/Stoll wedding memories, I'd love to hear 'em!

So, were you there? Did you come celebrate with us? I know that many of you did! If you have a memory, any memory at all, of that day I would love to hear it: funny memories, random memories, sappy memories, cute memories . . . bring 'em on. I would love to know what it is you remember about our wedding day.

A BIG "Happy Anniversary" to my wonderful husband and, also, a BIG thanks to our family and friends who were there, took part and made the day so wonderful for us. The biggest thanks of all to the Lord for seeing fit to bring us together . . . I couldn't be happier!

flashback friday

another couple wedding pictures in honor of 15 years::

thankful thursday

Today I'm thankful for all the years. Yesterday was our 15th anniversary. 15 years since that day of excitement, shared vows, a motorcade of VW Beetle convertibles, light rain showers, bubbles hanging in the air, clinking glasses and kisses. A decade and a half. Lots of life lived and unimaginable adventures still to come. I am so thankful for the blessing -- the grace in my life -- that is my husband. I love him more each day!

{I'm also SUPER thankful for, and excited about our just-over-24-kid-free-hours that begin tomorrow afternoon. Whoo Hoo!}

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here on a wonderful, amazing blog that I read each day.

"One Thousand Gifts":

1602. cool mornings :: fall in the air
1603. the hoot of an owl
1604. a quiet house and a good book
1605. soft snores coming from the bedrooms :: my 7 loves all still asleep
1606. time to think and give thanks
1607. leaves against the first light of morning
1608. snuggling with my big boy on the couch :: that he still wants to snuggle is truly grace!
1609. handsome blue eyes framed by black plastic :: and knowing that he can see clearly now::1610. tall sunflowers::1611. fabulous, caring, knowledgeable teachers for our kiddos
1612. a great first week of school
1613. one last swim in the outdoor pool
1614. amazingly glorious weather
1615. a fun date with my mom (& Sara)
1616. Tea Garden :: yum!
1617. crafting
1618. witnessing the exchange of vows :: two becoming one
1619. listening to my husband preach
1620. a new favorite -- so very, very true. give it a listen (or two or three or four)::
1621. "Behold the man upon the cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom"
How anyone can sing those words without the tears streaming down their cheeks truly baffles me completely. I was a mess :: always am!
1622. a good workout with a friend (everything is better with a friend)
1623. fun morning and good coffee with friends, discussing how everyone's first week went
1624. 11 months of Sara::1625. more cleaning, organizing and purging
1626. catching up with a favorite friend through an open minivan window :: ah, this life of mine!


Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

flashback friday tuesday

14 years ago today
9.21.96
just kids, I tell ya!

{if you were there and have any memories of our big day, I'd love to hear 'em! comment away!}

Flashback Friday

one of my favorite pictures:

brother & sister
august 2004

Teenagers!

It's official. Our marriage is now a teenager! 13 years ago today we said our "I do's" and have been having a great {and quite productive, I must say} time ever since. On the one hand it seems like we've always been together, always been married . . . I can hardly remember my life without Kirby in it, and on the other hand it seems like that day was just yesterday . . . how can it have possibly been 13 years ago already? Life is funny like that!
Although many of the details have faded {someone asked me yesterday what time of day I got married and I answered "umm . . . after lunch and before dinner" things like that -- which I'm sure was a major decision at the time: "should we have the wedding at 3 or 3:30?" -- don't really seem all that significant 13 years later}, I do remember that 9.21.96 was a great day. Some sprinkles of rain, but a great day nonetheless!

Were you there? Did you come celebrate with us? I know that many of you did! If you have a memory, any memory at all, of that day I would love to hear it: funny memories, random memories, sappy memories, cute memories . . . bring 'em on. I would love to know what it is you remember about our wedding day.
A BIG "Happy Anniversary" to my wonderful husband and, also, a BIG thanks to our family and friends who were there, took part and made the day so wonderful for us. The biggest thanks of all to the Lord for seeing fit to bring us together . . . I couldn't be happier!

the big day!

well, today is pretty much over and we all made it . . . heather & robert are officially married and the kids' big day is at an end. they both did quite well (joe & lydia, that is), all things considered: joe refused to wear his vest, coat or shoes for a while there and was finally convinced to put them back on . . . all but the shoes. he just wore his own and it was fine. also, he told me that when he got up onto the stage he was going to sing!! hmmm, i didn't remember that being part of the "plan" as we had discussed it! i inquired as to what he was planning to sing and he responded "dora!" . . . nice! thankfully, he didn't actually sing once he got up there, although he did stomp his feet rather loudly in the middle of the ceremony and then proceed to lay down right there in the middle of the front of the church and not get up. heather and robert graciously steped over him as they "recessed" from the church (is that the right word, recessed? i figured it's got to be called a "recessional" for some reason, and i don't think it has a thing to do with the economy!) lydia was in heaven and followed heather and "the girls" (the bridesmaids, who are now her new best friends!) around for the ENTIRE day! she even danced with heather in the third dance. you know how it is: bride & groom, bride & bride's father followed by bride & flower girl! then follow that up with bride, groom & flower girl all dancing together! what good sports they are! thanks guys! also, as a thank you for being a trooper and doing a "good job" at the wedding joey was rewarded with a 20 oz. bottle of dr pepper which he was thrilled with and had completely polished off before he got to our house from church! yikes! i'm not sure i'll be thanking robert & heather for that particular reward!! any sleepiness he was experiencing at the wedding is long since gone, that's for sure! he is a big fan of dr pepper (as is his mother!!) but really, 20 oz? he is 3!! and what about me?? for heaven's sake, i was the one who did all the actual work. where's my treat?? oh well. in case you want to see a few pictures, here you go. (ok, i admit there are a few more than a few!) enjoy 'em!

lydia & heather

sleepy boy

wedding kids

praying (notice how angelic lj looks: hands folded, head bowed and everything!)

joe laying down on the job (this picture doesn't QUITE capture the fact that most of the time he was literally laying down . . . flat on his stomach, one leg over the little ledge!)

grumpy boy
he perked up a little!
joey & robert
the whole crew
lydia & robert's dance

it fits!

well, we went to pick up joe's tux today for the wedding that he (and lydia too) is in this weekend . . . it all fits, although the fact that you had to try it ALL on before leaving the store turned in to a 20-minute ordeal (with sick baby in tow!) . . . shoes, pants, shirt, vest, tie, coat and the very necessary button extender for his above-average sized neck! anyway, it's all in a bag hanging in the hallway waiting for the big day. joe is also excited to have a tie because now he can "go to work", i hope he's not too bummed when we return it all on sunday! i guess he'll not be able to work until we buy him a tie . . . i think jacob had one when he was about joe's age, i'll have to dig around a little and find it!

4,383 days

a little jeopardy for ya:

answer: 1.2 decades, 4,383 days, 105,192 hours, 12 years -- long enough for: 5 kids, 1 apartment, 1 house, 5 jobs, 49 birthdays (12 for me, 12 for kirb, 9 for jacob, 7 for rebekah, 6 for lydia, and 3 for joe), a dozen christmases, 3 er visits, 1 pet, 7 vehicles, 2 different centuries . . .

question: what is: how long have you been married?

kirbs, today marks our 12th anniversary! happy anniversary, my love. i love you even more today then i did on that (slightly rainy) september day in 1996! thanks for a dozen wonderful years of being my husband and best friend (you've been my best friend for nearly 17 years now, actually!) our life . . . it's a crazy ride. i'm so glad we're on it together! I LOVE YOU!

blog followers, i hope you enjoy these pictures of 2 little kids who were (and are) very much in love! and if you were there with us on that day, thanks for stickin' with us through the years: take a minute to remember the yummy leaf cookies, the vw bug convertables, the slideshow of baby pictures (which wasn't something everyone did, back in the day . . . it was new & exciting!), the BIG glasses that chuck wore as he pronounced us "husband and wife", the live 4-piece string ensemble, blowing bubbles in the rain and the miriad of really cute little girls who charmed all who were there . . . just to name a few things. if you have other carlson/stoll wedding memories, i'd love to hear 'em!

i can't think about my anniversary without thinking of ron & mary (allison's parents) who have graciously shared this special date with us through the past 11 anniversaries . . . today would have been their 40th. mary died in may. ron & mary celebrated their 28th anniversary at our wedding (watching allison as the best maid-of-honor ever!) and each year on this day i have thought of them too, as i think back to our wedding and remember our anniversary! mary is missed deeply by many and will never be forgotten. ron, allie, justin & sam (ava too) . . . you are in our thoughts and prayers today (as you are all the time). we love you!