So, in my attempt to make it as special as can be before we leave I have been working on putting pictures from our past together. Looking back through pictures always makes me laugh, and it was even better as Mason was laughing at me laughing.
Here are the stories, condensed to the best of my ability...
The meeting: I had traveled with my friend Ashley Brown to Milford, Nebraska to visit the Hershberger family (the Brown and Hershberger families did business together and were family friends as well). This is when I was first introduced to Dustin. Two weeks later, we both attended the 4th of July celebration at the Brown's lake and this is where our friendship began. At the end of that summer (2003) we began dating. I was 18 at the time and he was 22. I had just graduated from High School, Dustin had just graduated from college.
Dating: Dustin was the first and only guy I ever dated. I wanted to take a serious approach to dating, not that I was opposed to dating.... I just hadn't wanted to date anyone before. I attended college at UNK while Dustin was working in Lincoln. So we visited each other on the weekends as often as possible. After my sophomore year of college, I decided to work at a summer camp in Lincoln and live there with some friends. We enjoyed getting to spend more time together and pretty soon I knew he was "the one". We had been dating for two years then.
Engagement: Dustin honestly and completely surprised me. We had talked about getting married after I graduated from college, so I was really surprised when he proposed a year "early"! We were traveling together from Lincoln to Overton to attend the annual 4th of July celebration and first ever "Camp Brown". When we arrived at the lake, he presented me with a card and exited the car. I opened the note, which gave me directions to proceed to the front door. After being led on a scavenger hunt throughout the house in which I had to correctly follow the clues, I was led to Dustin down on his knee. We began planning for a wedding the following summer.
Wedding: We were married at my home church in Holdrege on July 15, 2006. On our wedding day, Dustin and I were able to do an additional ring ceremony with the purity ring I had been given as a gift from my parents as a teenager. This was one of the most important things to us that day. I am so thankful for all those that were a part of helping us grow in our relationship. Most importantly, I am thankful to God for providing a wonderful Christian husband and that our focus on Him in our relationship made for a wonderful dating relationship and prepared a foundation for our marriage.
Married Life: As newlyweds we lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Kearney. Both Dustin and I worked and I continued attending classes and then student-taught. We LOVED married life!
Where are we now: We are still loving married life! I am continually grateful for the wonderful spouse and leader of our home that Dustin is. God has blessed me with the perfect man for me! God provided a foreclosed house for us to purchase after living in an apartment for two years. We were blessed to become parents to a baby boy on January 20, 2009! Dustin continues to work as the CFO of Brown Church Development Group, and I stay at home with our son, Mason, and work part-time as an instructor at Sylvan Learning Center.
I love my husband, happy 4th anniversary!
The ring- he picked it out all by himself!
The proposal
Engaged!
Road races- one of favorite "couple" activities while dating
Headed to Colorado to go skiing!
Bentley Milou- The puppy we all gave to my parents for Christmas. Dustin later killed the dog, accidentally of course, by taking it for a long run on a hot day. This happened to be the same day I was trying on wedding dresses.
Picture we used on the wedding invitations.
My brother took some pictures for us after our engagement, which we used as decorations on the wedding reception.
He can do some incredible things with his face! Here we were playing basketball with friends.
This is the beard he grew while skiing.
I get this look a lot :).
He's a great skiier.... my favorite part of skiing is tree trails!
Always helping out wherever needed!
Headed to one of our best friends' weddings- Derek & Amy Minshull!
He always pays attention to detail.
He was actually just testing out a built-in cot in a tent at Scheel's...
Not afraid to admit when he can't figure things out... like the punch fountain at Lacie and Kelly's wedding :).
Extreme tubing is one of our favorites!
Honesty is one of his best traits.... I learned early on not to buy him clothing.
Our first couples golf tournament together.
Dating
Fun at my parent's house.
He fits right in with my family!
We take our annual pumpkin carving VERY seriously!
Golfing and very happy.
Our family- brother Brandon and wife Aurelie, parents, and us during the ice storm (in front a fireplace my dad built)
At Jon and Chelsea Isaacson's wedding.
Running on the bike path. Dustin got me into running.
The kitchen where Dustin first told me he loved me :).
The first year we built gingerbread houses at Dustin's family Thanksgiving. We worked on ours for 3 hours...
Love his green eyes!
Married! I love him and I love cake!
Surprise! Dustin's dad arranged for a cool bright yellow car to take us to the reception!
Honeymoon food was soooo good!
We went to Disneyworld (my first time)! It was magical :).
Newlyweds!
First year anniversary!
All I wanted for our anniversary was to take pictures :).
Loving him more each day!
We have fun making big celebrations out of little things... showing off our "I voted" stickers!
We're pregnant!!!!!!!!! In our new home with our lovely green wall :).
Welcome Mason Michael! We became proud parents on January 20, 2009
Dustin is a wonderful father!
Mason's first golf tournament.
Mohawk madness!
Emily and Marcus's wedding.
Mason loves his Daddy!
Visiting Daddy at lunchtime.
Dan and Jennie's wedding.
Dustin reads to Mason every day.
Visiting Grandpa and Grandma Horn.
We love having a son!
Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Grammy's house (yes, the tree was already up!)
What a wonderful father!
Dustin is always making Mason smile!
It makes me so happy to see my boys having fun!
Attending Dustin's annual alumni basketball tournament.
Our first ever family Christmas card photo.
So thankful for these two!
Ski trip to Colorado (January 2010).
Celebrating Grandpa Bob's life.
Four years of marriage to this wonderful man! Happy Anniversary!
I love you!
