Though I wasn’t quite as surprised as my dad was that Jenni and I were celebrating our eighth wedding anniversary, I felt the growth of eight years of learning how to live out our love since the magical day. There were two things that Jennilyn did this year that stood out for me.
Whenever I look at what people search for to arrive at our blog, it is usually an image search. I never imagined that some of our personal photography would rank quite so high. One of our married life photo series is an example.
I don’t know whether to be flattered or concerned. At least it’s an image where I’m being a gentleman.
A rite of passage for every child and every parent, we embarked on our first journey to the happiest place on Earth with our kids and Tracy. I have not returned to Disneyland in over twenty-five years, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. In retrospect, the experience was best captured on a plaque near the entrance:
“Here you leave today and enter the world of
yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy”
A perfect birthday. That’s the only way I can describe it.
During the Christmas holiday, I reminisced about the highlights and milestones for the year. I thought of what I was thankful for: a beautiful wife who loves me more every year, three wonderful children who I’m privileged as their father, generous friends and family who give us their time to walk beside us in good times and bad, an enriching career that can fully support our family financially, and a hope and faith to guard and lead us through the darkness in the world.
In addition to all those blessings, a few new ones emerged in 2012.
Besides Christmas, Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday because it gathers our family together for a length of time longer than a quick meal, baby sitting exchange, errand, and the like. When I was growing up, I hated Thanksgiving because I always seemed to get in trouble during that holiday. In hindsight, I failed to see all the great times shared because all I focused, and even anticipated, on how I got trouble and scolded. But, a few years ago, when Jack started the initiative where he and I hosted the Thanksgiving meal, I’ve replaced the focus of getting in trouble with my parents to being a parent, and getting in trouble making up recipes in the kitchen Thanksgiving day.
This Halloween, Vernier’s marketing department decided to pay tribute to our CEO and co-founder, Dave Vernier, by imitating some of his most famous sayings—davisms.
While I miss the warmth of summer, the fall colors has given us amazing portrait backgrounds.
This is one of my favorite photos of our girls. I love the innocence of their hand holding, Kadie intrigued by the dust kicked up, and the sunset light bringing out the debri in the air.