One of our Anniversaries is on Friday. As I look back over the last 17 years I can’t help but smile at how perfect life with Vern is. You see I have three wedding days. Not because we are one of the crazy cool couples that love each other, but are not sure if we like each other. No we haven’t been divorced and remarried a few times. We just did it a little differently.
We eloped on a road trip. And what a road trip that was a. I mean seriously what else do you do when the roads are closed due to slow? And there really isn’t much to do at Dead Man’s Pass, and not to mention the fact that I was utterly infatuated with the guy. What a night just us, some amazing promises and vows and yes I am one of those lucky women who really did get my ring out of a gum ball machine. What a memory and a night to never be forgotten.
Our second wedding was in Amarillo. I could lie and say it was my dream wedding, but that would be, well a lie. Vern and Auvi and I were all there. It was small and sweet and all of the right people were there. Sometimes you do what is good for family, and doing that was good for them.
Our third was perfect we were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple with our two girls. It was a perfect October day. I couldn’t have loved Vern any more. In fact it started to look like trend, each time we had another wedding we added child to the picture. Maybe we should have had 14 wedding and I could have had the 13 kids I always thought I wanted (Glad I came to my senses quick on that one)
I was 20 when I met Vern. Vern was 19and Auvi was 9 months old. Vern swears it was love at first sight when he saw me. In fact I still can’t help but blush when he tells the story of how we met. But I really do believe the icing on the cake was when he met Auvi. Auvi was the cutest fattest sweetest little girl. Honestly she was just flat out adorable. After a few dates with Vern and working with him for a little while, he asked if we could do something with Auvi. I was a little leery of this at first. I though hmmm how do you do this single mom dating thing. But I knew that with Vern it would be ok. So one day he called and asked me if I wanted to drive out to Herford (yep you guess it we were in Texas, where else would a place be called something like Herford) to deliver some frames. Now that may not seem like a romantic hot date, but I really was digging the guy so I jumped at the chance to do it. “Well lets bring Auvi” he said. Obviously he didn’t know much about babies. Taking them on a 4 hour round trip car ride isn’t the best way to get to know one. But why not I thought. She was a bit fussy on the way there, but he did everything to make her smile and laugh. I couldn’t believe how sweet and patient he was with her. At that moment I knew this was the guy for me.
Believe it or not that 4 hour trip went off without any problems. On the way home Vern was singing Lion King Music to her the whole way home. In fact, as I think about it maybe I should have been a little jealous J He was paying much more attention to her then he was to me J
Auvi knew she was hooked when after the drive he took us to a little restaurant called Cajun Magic. I went to the restroom and came back to find that Vern had taught her how to use a straw and she was sucking away at a 32 ounce Dr. Pepper. From that moment she was in love with him.
As we started to date more Auvi was always included. In fact it was never even a question or a thought for him. He was just hers and mine. But you have to remember that he was still just a 19 year old guy. In his first apartment, with a roommate. He even had a toilet seat in his living room with a plant in it. He had hanging Dr. Pepper cans from the ceiling and may other things, I am sure he would glad that I didn’t share throughout his apartment. It was just a funny bachelor pad just like you would see in the movies.
How could a guy go from loving the crazy bachelor days to being a perfect husband and Dad all in 6 months? That is really the true question I have always wondered. This man I married is and was amazing. He was the perfect man and the perfect dad. Not many men at any age would even accept the responsibility in their life or a responsibility like that. That is what truly made me fall in love with him. He wasn’t just a new husband trying to figure out how to pay bills and live in a married life. He was a husband and a new dad figuring out how to be a dad and provide for a family. And I love him so much for it.
We quickly became pregnant with Zoe. I like to say we are an instant family just add water set up. As I watched my husband each day raise and love Auvi and soon have another beautiful daughter, I couldn’t help but fall deeper and deeper in love with him. His love for me and the girls was the greatest gift that I could ever have. We obviously like water, throughout the years our little family grew to a family of 6.
I know that in October of 1994 many people were pretty upset that they were snowed in the mountains. I know that the only little hotel room we could find was cheap and a little scary. But I also know that I will be forever grateful for the snow that fell from the sky and blocked our way back home. Because of that I have the man of my dreams and the most amazing father that any child could have!
I love this. I love your family and love that man that you have as your husband. He has truly been a blessing to you and to the rest of your family as well. You are both my role models and examples and I have been blessed by both of you being together.
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