4 Years Married

Yesterday was mine and Sterling's 4 year Anniversary.
Sterling's been working 12 hour shifts...so he worked all day. He picked up the babysitter on his way home. We call the Stevens family when we need a sitter. They have a 17 year old boy 16 yr old girl and a 12 yr old girl and a 10 yr old. Jessica, the ten year old, likes to tag along to learn how to babysit.
We got Josh and Jessica to sit last. I think Josh is better at it than Raquel (the 16 yr old).

Sterling brought home a gorgeous bouquet he chose each flower for. He picked four red roses and four pink lilies then filled the bouquet with white daisies and some babies breath.
He also gave me a Willow Tree figurine. I love the Willow Trees. He picked out a mother rocking her child in a large quilt. I love it.

I gave Sterling a Grillers cook book. I also made Sterling a card. Inside I wrote ;
"Four Years
Our first year as husband and wife we learned a lot about each other.
We learned how to be a married couple.
We prepared to invite a baby into our life and start our family.

Year 2 we learned how to be parents for the 1st time.
We enjoyed spending time with our families. We went to Zion's with my family and to Disneyland with yours.

Our 3rd year we face another adventure and moved to Italy.
I was not afraid to move across the ocean because you were with me.
You hold my heart. You are my best friend. You are "home" to me.
Wherever we go, whatever we face, as long as you are with me I can face it strong and confident.
I feel our relationship grew to perfection that year.
Perhaps it was because we are far from our families and have to completely rely on each other for love.
We also decided during year 3 to have a second child. Tiberias was born.

Year 4 we faced the challenge of finding time to make love and enjoy intimacy being parents of 2 children. This year has been the best year of my entire life.
Seeing the world, raising two adorable sons and spending lots of time with you!

I absolutely love the man you are! I love watching you teach and play with our sons.
I love that they have you to look up to and follow. You will be their hero and their guide.
You will teach them to live the gospel and be a servant of our Heavenly Father.
From you they will learn to walk on this earth valuing and practicing honesty, hard work, virtue, faith and love. They will come to love learning as you do, I am sure of it.
And you will teach them self reliance with many valuable skills such as gardening, how to use tools and how to build things.
You amaze me! I could not be happier in any life than I am as your wife.
I truly, faithfully love you."

Lachoneus cried when he realized we were leaving him. He doesn't cry when we leave but this time he did.

We drove up to Barcis for dinner. We ate at a restaurant and then took a moment to look out on the lake before the sky grew dark. It was gorgeous! We had a great time.

Tonight we are going to Porcia to do our family portraits. Josh is coming along to get the kids to look to the camera and smile.
I am going to be really busy until I leave for the states next Thursday...if we get to leave that day.
Ty's birthday is next Friday. I'm going to wait until I'm in the states and celebrate his birthday with my family. They can help me decorate Ty's first birthday cake. I can teach my niece how to do it. It was Sterling's idea to celebrate late with my family instead of early.

I am so excited to have my family see how big my sons have gotten! And for my boys to spend time with their relatives! But we will really miss Sterling!