5 years, 10 days and 10 years, 3 weeks

Today is mine and Sheryl's anniversary. Ten years ago today, we got married. I remember it so clearly. Seeing Sheryl walking down the aisle of the old Otter Creek building to Michael W. Smith's "The Other Side of Me." Saying our vows in front of the church and Buddy Arnold. Wondering if I could love her any more than I did then.

We spent five great years together, just the two of us. Those times are honestly very much a blur and there are times that I miss the freedom we had to pick up and just go somewhere, but I wouldn't trade them at all for what we have now.

Five years ago, we celebrated five years together. Kinsey was 10 days old. I ordered out to Princeton's Grille and went to pick up the food. We ate our anniversary dinner and took turns holding our first born daughter, laughing at the wonderful absurdity of it all. Thinking that even though we didn't know how we were going to get through everything with this crying, hungry poop machine, we knew that we were in it together.

The last five years have been great. We're figuring out how this kid thing works. We've gotten used to being Phil, Sheryl, and Kinsey. We've taken some fun trips together including to England, and worked really hard to raise up a little girl who will be polite, respectful, and fun to be around.

Today is 10 years. Once again, we have a newborn in the house, although we know a little better what we're doing, i.e. crying doesn't kill a child, just breaks a parent's heart, unless the child is crying so hard that he forgets to breathe in between cries. And now we're Phil, Sheryl, Kinsey, and Connor, but in a lot of ways, it is Sheryl and I still. I married my best friend and even though we don't always agree on everything, we do talk about it and not let things fester. And we love being around each other and walking in faith's journey with each other.

God knew what he was doing when he put us together and I'm thankful for it.