10 Years Ago Today...

we stood in front of a radio station dj, in a flea market fun park, along with 12 other couples, ready to exchange vows....until a promotions person for the station screamed, "WAIT there is another couple coming!!" And in slow motion (like Baywatch), a woman comes running up in a STRIPPER wedding gown! Her top half bouncing would have done Pam Anderson proud. It was then we noticed the 3 kids in tow, followed by their father holding what appeared to be a brand new baby. At last we were wed, in front of God, family, and carnies. The "reception" was hosted and dj'd by the radio. There was flea market cake and pizza for all. After the wedding parties we allow to play all day for free.

Sigh.

Memories.

You think I am kidding? That was really my wedding!

And you know what? I don't regret a minute of it.

We were planning a small, but complicated wedding. My dad was not coming (racial issues now long gone), my mom and grandmother were fighting and refused to come if the other was, and we were broke. I heard on the radio that a popular station was planning a giant group wedding and that it would be free. Sounded like an adventure to me and did I mention it was FREE?I called in and was chosen to take part. We raced to city hall got the license and called our families the next day. The following day I picked out a dress, flowers, and our wedding rings (from a pawn shop). The next morning we were married.

It was an adventure.

It still is an adventure.

10 years later, we have been though so much. Some of the things every couple goes through, growing up, getting older, and changing who we are as people. There have been fights, actually quite a few. There have been times we didn't have two dimes to our name, but we survived all that. We have been blessed with three amazing now-not-so-little boys. And we faced our oldest child being diagnosed with Autism, as a team.

However, in the months following Kai's death, I wasn't sure we would make it. Losing a baby is not something you can prepare for. But we did make it, mostly because Neil is a saint (cuz I was CRAZY). We have handled the three subsequent losses together. We are a little older and a lot wiser now. I don't take a day for granted.

Everyday is still an adventure. I feel so blessed to be married to him, for many reasons. Have I mentioned the man cleans? He is also an incredible father, there are not enough words to describe how important that is. And last but not least, he is HOT.

I hope an pray we are blessed to continue to celebrate our lives together.