The particular line that got me in the letter was, "With all the sacrifice and hard work we have done, the best years are yet to come." It just hit me that our 20s are truly over.
I thought back to 10 years ago today, when I was turning 21. I was three weeks away from marrying my high school sweetheart, and wedding invitations hadn't even gone out. My best friend and maid of honor, Patricia, was failing her first semester of nursing school. I couldn't help but think it was partly my fault with the last minute wedding. My husband-to-be just returned to the United States after being in Germany for over two years. Of course, 9/11/01 had just happened and since Nick still had over a year left in the Army...we were pretty nervous about the future. My Dad was worried that getting married at 21 would result in me dropping out of college and getting pregnant. Boy did I know better!
Patricia, me, and Nick on my 21st birthday
Our first year of marriage was spent apart. Nick lived at Fort Hood and finished his service in the Army while I continued my full-time job and went to college at night. Nick had begged me on several occasions in 2000 to move to Germany with him and get married. But I knew that when he got out of the Army, we would need a stable income and health benefits, both of which my job provided. In January 2003 Nick was officially out of the Army, although still in inactive reserves, he began his college career. If someone would have told us that college would take each of us eight years...I'm not sure we would have been up for it. We both worked and paid our own way through bachelor degrees and master degrees. Nick's military service paid for most of his, which was great because that was the main reason he went into the Army in the first place.
Turning 23, out with Nick's friend Jeff
(he was the best man at our wedding, they met in the Army in Germany)
Our old apartment
In 2004 I turned 24 and graduated from UTA with my bachelors in Business Management. Woo hoo! Finally! The freedom was short lived though, I applied for TCU's graduate program in the spring of 2005 and started my MBA in August of that year.
My Mom
Celebrating 25 with the best of friends
Tricia, Alicia, Rene, Katy, and Jasmine
Oh my gosh! Look at that cake!
In 2006 I was overwhelmed with still having a year left of graduate school. Nick was struggling with the stress of electrical engineering school and working. It wasn't easy but we knew in the end it would be worth it. At least, that's what you tell yourself to get through it!
Birthday dinner at Connie and Julio's
Turning 27 was rough. So many emotions. I had just spent two months at two different hospitals visiting my Mom who was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. After a week in ICU, we nearly lost her from surgery complications. I struggled through my last semester at TCU trying to finish up my MBA. Most professors were understanding and compassionate. I was ready to graduate and be there for my Mom while she went through chemo.
Tricia lighting the candles
Me and Connie
Me and my parents. My last birthday with my Mom.
Friends! Always. There. Love.
In 2008, at the age of 28, I was mourning the death of my Poppa, my Mom, and my Grandpa. It was hard to celebrate. Nick's parent's hosted a gathering at their house and it was nice.
Poppa - You Are Missed
Mom. Missed Every Second of Every Day.
Grandpa Branscum, loved and missed
Best guitar player ever
In 2009, I was still mourning the loss of so many people I loved. Even though Nick was still in college (STILL! graduate school now), he went along with my crazy desires to travel my heart out. I needed distractions. So in ten months, we went to Hawaii, New York (three times!), Massachusetts, a cruise to Jamaica, and a bed and breakfast retreat to Fredericksburg. Then it was time to finally have a baby! Our plan was 2010 from the beginning and it was finally upon us. Nick still had some college left but was set to graduate in August of 2010. So for my 29th birthday, we announced that we were expecting.
Turning 30 is a big deal. So despite being nine months pregnant, I had to make it extra special for Nick. I actually pulled off a surprise birthday party and Nick had no idea. Surprise parties are so stressful to plan! But so worth it for someone you love.
My 30th birthday included dinner at Babe's Chicken and a trip to Taos, New Mexico. Nick planned the entire trip! It was a great get-away to a relaxing resort with breathtaking scenery.
The new fixture for all future birthday parties :) Our Sydney
Recognize these faces? Every birthday :)
Taos, New Mexico
And for 2011, for my 31st birthday...we announced another pregnancy.
Isn't it crazy what can happen in ten years! So much life, so many moments, planned and not planned. Most of our 20s were spent surviving college. I think our 30s will be spent surviving parenthood. :) A lot of what we planned has worked out with God's blessings. We finished school, we bought a house, we traveled, we had a baby exactly when we wanted. Yet some of the hardest events were not planned. The loss of my Mom and two grandpas.
Our plan for the next 10 years is to raise our children and prepare for retirement. Hopefully by our 40th birthdays we will be mortgage free! We don't really know how that will be possible but if we plan for it, it can happen right?
In a few weeks Nick and I will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary. As of this moment, we have no plans. We both know we need to work on that soon. If someone would have told me ten years ago what struggles and opportunities I would face in the next ten years, I probably would have freaked. But as always, looking back has it's advantages. You made it through it, and it all worked out. God's plan always does.
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