20th

November 12, 2004

20 years! No words—just so much love and gratitude for having him by my side all these years.  It’s hard to believe it’s been two decades since our wedding day. What a journey it’s been—full of love, laughter, challenges, growth, and so many shared adventures. 

 I love thinking back to our wedding day—how young we were, full of hope and dreams. I still remember the look on Brad’s face when he saw me in my dress and the excitement of celebrating with all the people we loved most.  I’m grateful everyday that we chose each other.

Couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.

To mark the milestone, we have a big family trip to Costa Rica coming up soon (can’t wait!), but we also snuck away for a little weekend getaway just the two of us.

We spent our anniversary weekend in Austin—Brad got to ride with his biking buddies while I enjoyed a peaceful morning walking around the park. That evening, we had a lovely dinner out, and just when I thought the night was winding down, Brad surprised me with concert tickets to see Mat Kearney! (Which officially will be six convents for me, but since this was unexpected I hadn’t included it)

 Here’s to 20 years of marriage, to choosing each other, and to all the adventures still ahead. Love you, Brad.

19 Years!

Celebrated 19 incredible years of marriage! I couldn't be more grateful for the journey we've shared together. Here's to many more years of happiness and adventures!

 

November

This November Brad and I celebrated 18 years of marriage! Holy moly that makes us sound old! But there isn’t anyone else I’d rather grow old with! To celebrate we did a staycation in downtown. We got a hotel and went to dinner and to see the the musical production of Six! It was a great weekend.

Cuties off to the bus stop.

Logan got the circle of character award for November! He received the Respect award.

“Logan is such a sweet boy with excellent manners. He is always a respectful classmate and a good friend.”

These two got to go on their first and unfortunately last campout together! Carson’s troop invited the Arrow of Light boys along, and though it was a rainy and cold weekend they had a good time. Carson unfortunately no longer wants to continue with boy scouts and dropped out after the end of the year. We were a little disappointed he didn’t want to continue on with his Eagle after all he’s done, but he has gotten tired of it and his heart was no longer in it.  Tanner however decided he wants to continue with Boy Scouts and will be joining in March after his Arrow off Light crossover ceremony.

Here’s Tanner with a couple of his Arrow of Light buddies. Tanner was the only one in his group who spent the night, the others only stayed for a day, but Tanner stayed and shared a tent with Carson.

November isn’t over just yet! Our Thanksgiving holiday trip is up next!

 

November happenings

October and November was a busy time for us this year! We had lots of family visitors, plus our usual going ons. Here’s some more of what we were up too:

Carson’s Scout troop had a family Thanksgiving outing. Where the family got to go to their campsite, to get a sense of how they can. They also cooked a “Thanksgiving” meal for the family. The adults had roasted an underground pig while the scouts all cooked the sides. Carson’s group was in charge of the mashed potatoes. It was a yummy feast!

It was fun seeing Carson camp with his troop! We had a great time!

Brad and I celebrated our 17 year anniversary!! Wow that just sounds really old…but I love growing old with him! 

Farewell lunch with my coworkers to say goodbye to my dear friend Kellie. Hate that she has to move away.

Logan at his first belt test! He was so excited and ready!

He passed! Isn’t he just the cutest?

Getting his yellow belt. So proud of my little guy!

 

Sweet 16

 

Happy sweet 16 to us! I know what everyone is thinking and yes I was a really young bride. But we’ve grown up together mostly because of each other. We know each others ins and outs. We’re so intertwined he’s just a part of me. We’ve grown up together and now we’re growing old together. Love you fiercely Brad! 💕

15 Years

Brad returned home from the Pacific for just 3 days before he left again for Norway.  Fortunately for Brad he made it home for our Anniversary (he might have been in trouble if he missed it..)  This year Brad and I celebrated 15 years!  Almost half my life!  I couldn't imagine going through life's ups and downs with.  We make a pretty great team and I wouldn't want anyone else by my side.

To celebrate we went to a fancy little place for dinner and to see the play I was most excited for seeing in our Broadway season tickets, Dear Evan Hansen.  It was absolutely amazing and I put it right up there with Hamilton as one of the best plays I've ever seen.  Poor Brad though was having a hard time staying awake due to jet lag, but it was a wonderful to have him home and by my side to celebrate us.  Love him!

Fourteen

Fourteen years guys!! I seriously can not believe it.  Over the summer I was talking to my bestie from high school and she was saying that next year her and her husband will be celebrating 15 years and I told her I just couldn't believe it.  Then she said "well aren't you going to be celebrating 15 years too?"  I was floored.  Why yes I guess I am!  It just sounds so old.  I'm not old enough to have been married this long right? Haha.  I guess thats what happens when you're a baby bride,  but there is no one else in this world that I'd rather grow old with, to share life's adventures with, and to raise our boys with.  Gray hairs and all. Love ya babe.  Always.

Lucky 13

 This year Brad and I celebrate lucky 13.  13 years!  Wow.  I was looking back at my old anniversary posts (I get a little bit sentimental during anniversary's, pregnancy's and birthday's) and saw my post from two years ago when I was going through cancer and knowing that Brad loved me so so much because we went through so so much.  This year wasn't the up and down of that year, but instead filled with an exciting adventure(Peru), and just day to day living. And I feel so lucky to have Brad by my side because marriage isn't always that big romantic vacation (which is super fun and am so glad we got to do!), but instead, marriage is made of a million little moments.  The everyday things that matter more.  That kiss in the morning before he goes to work, the smile hello, the what can I help you with, and I'll change the poopy diaper.  It's the mundane, day to day moments that really add up to a great marriage.  Yep, 13 is a lucky number!

On our anniversary, Brad always picks a fun date night!  This time we went to a pub.  I know right?  But yes we went to a pub on our wedding anniversary because the headline act was this cute little Indie band from Austin that sang cute love songs.  It really was the perfect way to spend an anniversary.

They were absolutely the cutest couple.  We bought their CD after the show and talked to them for a bit.  Dawn saw Brad's family picture in his wallet and asked about the boys and how long we've been married.  I think everyone does a double take when we tell them!  Yes we were babies!  Hawke asked how we heard about them and Brad just said he was looking up fun date night ideas and he was so proud that we chose them for date night.  They would definitely be someone you'd want to be friends with.

The next Brad told me he looked them up and we found out that they were on the tv show The Voice.  Crazy!  They were on team Adam and Adam even said they were his favorite performance and that their music is the type of music he likes to listen too.  Didn't realize they were so famous!  But not surprised they really are so cute.

12 years on the 12th!

Brad and I celebrated 12 years on the 12th!  Our Golden Anniversary!  It is so surreal that we've been married for so long!  I wouldn't want to be with anyone else through life's ups and downs.  He's my best friend and without him I'm lost.  Love ya forever Brad!

11 Years

I'm in awe at what a wonderful husband Brad is.  Who could have predicted this roller coaster of a year?  He was by my side through it all and helped and strengthened me when I was down.  His love for me shown more then ever through his deep concern for my well being.  For isn't that what true love is all about?

I'm proud to say that we've most definetly proved without a doubt the old saying "in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad".  Here's hoping though that this next year is a quiet one and isn't full of surprises!

Celebrating 10 Years

Celebrated 10 years of being Brad & Emily Clark!  10 Years!  Its incredible to me that its been that long, I still remember that special day so vividly in my mind.  Yet at the same time I know it has to be, because its hard to remember my life without him.  We've been through so much and have become so intertwined that we know each others ins and outs.  He is my person and knows me better then I know myself.

I love this man fiercely!   He loves me unconditionally through all my faults, and still thinks I'm incredibly beautiful.  I couldn't have asked for a better man to have by my side.  Our life together has made me so happy.  We have 3 amazing boys and Brad is an exceptional father.  He works so hard to provide for our family so that not only do we have a beautiful house to call home, but also the means and time to make family memories.

We have done so much together, lived a few different places and have traveled to see lots of places.  It has drawn us closer together.

Yesterday we had a wonderful day of celebrations.  I mean it is our number 10 so you kindof have to do something special.  I had 10 balloons with pictures on the end to represent our 10 years together and on the back of the pictures I wrote reasons why I loved him.  I also have to note that  after 10 years of marriage I FINALLY was able to surprise Brad with a gift!  He's always been so good about giving me presents, but I've never been able to truly surprise him and if felt great!  I bought him a new Citizens watch.  He's had his since High School and I thought it was time for an upgrade.

We also watched this slideshow I made Brad with the kids of our 10 years together.  To remind us just how far we've come.  We then dropped the two older kids at a friends house so Brad and I could go out to dinner and have some alone time together (Logan slept through most of it, yay!)  We enjoyed reminiscing and talking about our wonderful family that we've created.  

This free slideshow design made with Smilebox

Yep I must say that I love my life and can't wait to celebrate many more decades with this man!

NiNe

I always knew I made an excellent choice when I said yes to him.  I love him more and more each year!  Happy Anniversary Brad!