I love to Dream, live to Create and hope to Inspire!

You are the Sunshine of my Life!
17 years ago today ~ We said "I DO"

Today is my 17th year wedding anniversary. I am honored to say that I am married to the most amazing man.

I know I shared some of this last year but I have so many new visitors to my blog I'd love to share it again with you all.

I moved to Okinawa, Japan where my father was stationed in 1988. I had been involved in a very long relationship to include an engagement and it all resulted in his marriage to another women 3 mths after our break up. I also hated the job that I was in and was ready for some big changes in my life. My dad gave me the chance to move over to Japan and go to school and start a new chapter in my life. We all have life changing moments and let me tell you this is one of the best decisions I've made in my life to date!

I went to school and worked and since my dad was a Marine I dated marines. (Yes, Nicole ~ I probably dated your brother~ hehehe). In 1990 my best friend called me at work and asked if I wanted to go on a blind date and I said "sure" (WHAT?) and then she mentioned it was at a sushi bar and was that okay and I said "sure" (WHAT?). First off, I've never been on a blind date and second I didn't like seafood ~ let alone RAW seafood. I think that was my first anxiety attack in my life. I started thinking of excuses to get out of it and even phoned my friend to say "I'm not sure I can go through with this". She assured me that this blind date was incredibly sweet and that he truly was my type. She picked me up and we went to Jirocho's (a sushi bar outside gate 1 at Kadena AB) and the boys had already arrived. When we approached the table there were 3 men there. I knew my friends boyfriend, but of the other 2 guys ~ which one was my date. I knew which one I hoped it was and walked over by him and sat down. THANK goodness it was my date - how incredibly rude that would have been to the other guy huh?!?hehehe.
Long story short - we ate ~ I ate EEL. The thought of it now makes those hairs on the back of my neck stand up ~ YUK. This is where the second anxiety attack in my life kicked in ~ how in the world did I get way over here away from where my friend is sitting. How did I end up sitting next to this guy? When I go somewhere where I don't know others I tend to stick by those I go with ~ hard to believe I'm sure for some of you that know me well but I am a bit shy around other people that I don't really know. I was pleased with myself though and got over the anxiety and well this date just made me feel comfortable. He was so sweet and very interesting. Before the night was over I felt like I'd known him all my life. After eating we went upstairs to the Karaoke Bar (like you do in Japan you know) and I ended up singing You Are The Sunshine of My Life in front of this wonderful man I just met ~ WHAT??? Third anxiety attack kicked in!
He called me the next day and several days after that we had our second date without the friends. SO many memories that would take up way too much of your time to read so I'll fast track for you. We met April 28th and got married on Sept. 1 the same year. I knew almost the minute that I met this man that this was the MAN God intended for me to marry. I used to always say that my Mr. Right was in Ethiopia or somewhere not in the USA and guess what he was waiting for me in Japan.
We married on base but had many Japanese friends come and it was an incredible day. I remember my walking down the isle to my waiting soon to be husband and all of a sudden his glasses fogged up! Too funny! We had a good laugh over that!

From day one my DH has done so much for me! He cooks, he cleans, he probably changed more diapers than I did with all 3 of our boys ~ why ~ because he wanted me to get an extra hour of sleep, or he knew I had them all day when he was at work and wanted me to have a little break. HE is the most THOUGHTFUL man I've ever known. Honey, I LOVE YOU with all my heart and soul and know that God brought us together and keeps us together!

I have so many more things to post but will share those with you another day soon.
Have a wonderful weekend.