So here we are, Valentine’s Day! Ever since I started this blog I have been planning to write about Daniel and I’s story. At this point, we have been together for 15 years and married for 12 this year in June. I honestly didn’t know what I was starting when Daniel asked me to be his girlfriend in the high school parking lot but, I am glad I did!

2006 – high school sweethearts

Daniel and I met while I was dating his best friend Caleb my freshman year. Now it’s not as bad as it sounds, Caleb was the one to push Daniel and I together. My sophomore year both Daniel and I had free periods at the end of the school day so we would drive around until school got out when Daniel would drop me off back at the school where I could catch my bus to go home. During the drop-off on December 12th, 2006, Daniel asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes.

2009

We had planned that we would both move out once I graduated so that neither of us had to deal with the roommate situation. In 2009 I graduated and I’m the same day Daniel and I moved in together after dating for 2 ½ years. There were definitely some major bumps along the way since neither of us had been on our own. There was a lot for us to learn both about having our own household and living with someone else that’s not your family.

2010 – Here come the wedding bells!

Daniel and I were married on June 26th, 2010. It was completely unplanned & spur of the moment. Honestly though not for any reason but impatience. We ended up having a 1-week engagement and couldn’t have gotten the wedding together without the help of our parents and amazing friends who helped. For years now we have thought about having a big blowout for one of our anniversaries but that has yet to materialize. We’ll see if that happens one of these days.

2012

We welcomed the birth of our son Jason on April 27th, 2012. He has been such a joy to our lives, and I am truly grateful to be his mom. After his birth, we had a huge adjustment and I struggled with postpartum depression and the physical recovery of both laboring for 24 hours and an emergency c-section. It took some rough times, but I was able to pull myself out of my postpartum depression with tons of help from my family and friends. Jason was an amazing baby and he helped to pull me through.

2013

At the start of 2013, Daniel and I had the crazy idea that we should buy our first house. This all started because the attached home connected to Daniel’s parents’ house went up for sale but, then we decided it would probably be a bad idea. So, we kept on looking and found our starter home only 3 streets away. We honestly shouldn’t have bought it because it was only a 2-bedroom house and Daniel and I knew we wanted more than one child and this house needed some work! But we bought it anyway and it has been such a good place to continue and grow our family for the past 9 years.

2017

We welcomed our daughter Natalie into the world on May 5th, 2017. Due to the complications of Jason’s birth, we decided that a planned c-section was best for our family. I am so glad that we decided to do that. My recovery was much easier this time since I didn’t labor at all and Daniel was able to be home for a couple weeks until I was healed enough to easily get around on my own.

2022 – Where are we now?

This year we will celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary. Jason will be 10 and in 4th grade. Natalie will be 5 and headed into kindergarten in the fall. Not to say we haven’t struggled through the past 15 years together and 12 years of marriage but, we have chosen each other through it all and for that I am truly grateful. 

Our Next hurdle will be selling our current home and hopefully buying our forever home. I am determined to make this year the best year Daniel and I have spent together yet. 

Until next time, 

AK-Abi