Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Happy Anniversary Danny...

My wonderful husband - I will never forget the day that you asked me to be your wife. Your proposal at the Kennedy Center absolutely took my breath away - I couldn't believe it was true - I was going to be with you for the rest of my life! You were the one I had always dreamed of, the one I had waited for so long... You won my heart with your kind and gentle ways, the way that you served me, the way you pursued me, your compassionate, sensitive heart, and let's not forget about your beautiful blue eyes!! I knew I wanted to be your wife, and I knew I wanted YOU to be the father of my children...
Our wedding day was a fairy tale come true. I was the princess, you were my prince. I will never forget coming down the aisle and starting to tremble uncontrollably as my Dad comforted me with his firm grip, and then seeing nobody but you at the end of that aisle. The tears were flowing down your cheeks before I even took one step, and by the time I got to you, there was nobody else in that room. It was just you and me, and I was no longer nervous about being the center of everyone's stares.


The song you sang for me completely melted my heart, and I will NEVER forget it... I can't believe still that you actually got through it. I cherish that moment forever. Then there was the moment that we leaned toward each other for our first kiss - not just as husband and wife - but our first kiss ever. It was magical. The world disappeared again, and it was just you and me. Thank you for leading us to that point where we were able to come before God, having walked out our relationship in complete purity. That first kiss felt like the blessings of a thousand lifetimes were upon me.


And then, when we walked to the back of the aisle, and your brother said "welcome to the family" I once again couldn't believe that we had actually done it! You had actually married me! You didn't find a reason to get out of it! haha


Our first dance was also completely magical. Again, I felt there was nobody in the world but you and me... what an amazing feeling, being so in love with my handsome prince and dancing with him in my beautiful dress... I wish I could re-live that day over and over...


Thank you for many years of absolute joy, passion and romance. You have been a faithful, kind, serving, gentle husband. You have loved me when I did not deserve it, you have served me when you didn't feel like it, you have always put me first above yourself. God blessed me beyond measure the day he made you my husband...

May we have many many more years of love, romance, happiness and passion. May our marriage and lives glorify God continually, and may we never take each other for granted. I love you so much, my dear darling Daniel...

Monday, November 3, 2008

Fall Happenings

It has been a long time since I have posted anything - life for the Dustins has been very full and busy. School is taking up most of my day this year and so there is very little time left for anything extra. We have managed to squeeze in some fun fall memories though! These were the kids costumes this year - Ryan as Peter, High King of Narnia, Hannah is a Renaissance lady, and Jacob, of course, is a very handsome Indiana Jones!
I am not sure who the big hairy guy is in the back...


We managed to carve some pumpkins this year as well.



"The leaves crunch under my feet as I walk, the wind blows ever so elegantly. The leaves rustle in the wind after turning into that reddish-orange color. The steady fall of Autumn leaves, falling to the ground. It's all just so beautiful". This is what Hannah wrote as a description of fall... she summed it up so well.





A couple weeks ago Danny took the boys on a camping trip for the weekend and Hannah and I stayed home and did some home-projects, decorated for fall, and went to hear Carolyn Mahaney's message on beauty. We watched HOURS of Jane Austen movies while we crunched on a huge bag of Cheetos. We had a lovely tea, and thoroughly enjoyed our "Jane Austen, home-decorating, beauty" weekend!!! This is a tradition now in the Dustin family - this being the second year in a row we have done this - boys go camping, girls stay home. It is really a tradition we hope to continue forever, even with in-laws and grandchildren.


Hannah and I went to Butlers Orchard and gathered pumpkins.


Meanwhile, the boys were at their campsite battling spiders, cold weather, rain, and rubber beds. Let's just say that I am glad that this is a "boy only" weekend...


This year Danny bought a special game to play in the cabin if it rained. Let's just say they played HOURS of this new game!!


Happy Fall everyone!!!