10 years.
4 children.
5 states.
2 apartments.
6 houses.
10 deployments
50 months apart
3 childbirths together
1 childbirth apart
3 cross country road trips
7 times packing up our belongings
8 times unpacking our belongings
2 surgeries
4 girls
countless letters,emails, long distance phone calls
a few arguments
a fair amount of misunderstandings
lots of tears
so much worry
bliss
frustration
sheer panic
teamwork
communication
respect
more love than i could ever put into words on this blog.
ten years ago today i married my hero, my best friend, and the love of my life.
i never ever ever could have known what God would show us, teach us, and put us through.
over the years we have been through more than i could have imagined.
but through it all, the good times and the bad, there has been a finely woven thread of respect.
faith.
love.
honor.
dedication.
commitment.
he is a steady presence in my life. his hand on the small of my back? gives me the confidence to do ANYTHING.
he is my anchor.
i am the silly one. the social butterfly.
he is the rock.
i am so grateful.
so so so so so grateful.
he is the best husband, the best father, the best man.
he loves me in a slow, steady, constant, respectful way. and this is the best gift he could give our daughters.
he is gentle and kind and shows them how a man should treat a woman.
we are a great team. and after 10 years there is still so much to learn.
so much growing to do.
so many mistakes to make (and learn from).
there is no one that i'd rather have holding my hand.
happy anniversary, james carr howell.
god only knows what i'd be without you.
xo
S
Happy anniversary to you and Jimmy. Wishing the two of you and your beautiful girls many, many more years of happiness together.
Posted by: Lynn | 03/29/2013 at 07:13 AM
You certainly have a way with words...just beautiful. Happy Anniversary to you both!
Posted by: Jen O. | 03/29/2013 at 07:33 AM
happy tenth stephanie and jimmy! what a beautiful reflection on your life together...may God continue to bless you!
Posted by: Kimber-Leigh | 03/29/2013 at 07:35 AM
happy Anniversary to you both! May God continue to reveal himself to you and your husband!
Posted by: Jackee Garcia | 03/29/2013 at 08:05 AM
Happy Anniversary to you both!
Posted by: Marti Richards | 03/29/2013 at 08:07 AM
Happy Anniversary Steph and Jimmy!!! Wishing you many, many more wonderful years!!
Posted by: Michelle | 03/29/2013 at 08:11 AM
Happy Anniversary, you two! Much love, the Berrys :)
Posted by: Sara Berry | 03/29/2013 at 08:18 AM
Happy Anniversary to you both, enjoy your special day and heres to the next ten.
xx
Posted by: Linda in Aus | 03/29/2013 at 08:21 AM
What a sweet, sweet post. Congratulations on 10 years of marriage - may God bless you with many, many more years of happiness!
Posted by: Christine F. | 03/29/2013 at 08:29 AM
Happy Anniversary! I remember your post from last year when J was away and Harper and Sadie had a party with you. What a blessing this year is, and what a wonderful family you have!
Posted by: Miriam Prantner | 03/29/2013 at 08:43 AM
Happy anniversary!
Posted by: Jenna | 03/29/2013 at 08:59 AM
Happy Anniversary!
Posted by: Nita K. | 03/29/2013 at 08:59 AM
Aw, geez. I'm crying. This is so beautiful, Stephanie. Congrats on your tenth anniversary!
Posted by: Sarah K | 03/29/2013 at 09:10 AM
Happy Anniversary! Love the concept of this blog post so much. I hope you don't mind if I borrow it for my own anniversary and birthday.
Posted by: Cathie | 03/29/2013 at 09:25 AM
Happy anniversary! What sweet words, I can hear you pouring your heart out, wow you're inspirational.
Posted by: Jonnelle | 03/29/2013 at 09:37 AM
Such a lovely tribute to the most important person in your life. Happy Anniversary and here's to a life time of happiness together. Congrats on your 10 year milestone.
Posted by: Ann Lind | 03/29/2013 at 09:50 AM
I have tears in my eyes you lovely woman, I hope he reads this and keeps it forever. I wish you another fifty years and more xx
Posted by: stacey | 03/29/2013 at 10:16 AM
happy 10 years!
Posted by: jung a | 03/29/2013 at 12:00 PM
A beautiful post. Happy Anniversary!
Posted by: laura kate | 03/29/2013 at 12:16 PM
Here is to 10 more many times over!
Posted by: Kelley | 03/29/2013 at 12:39 PM
happy anniversary!!!! Cheers to many more!!!
Posted by: Lissa | 03/29/2013 at 12:39 PM
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! What a wonderful milestone. Prayers to you guys for many many many more.
Posted by: Krista | 03/29/2013 at 01:22 PM
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! :)
Posted by: rkokes | 03/29/2013 at 01:29 PM
Happy 10th! Next year it will be "Buon undicesimo anniversario!". Life is an adventure, for sure. ;-)
Posted by: diana | 03/29/2013 at 02:16 PM
Many congratulations!
Posted by: Ruth | 03/29/2013 at 02:57 PM
Happy anniversary, S & J! This part gave me chills: "he loves me in a slow, steady, constant, respectful way. and this is the best gift he could give our daughters. he is gentle and kind and shows them how a man should treat a woman." He is lucky to have you and you are lucky to have him . . . and the fact that you both feel that way . . . is a beautiful thing. May God bless you and your marriage and your four gorgeous girls.
Posted by: Laura | 03/29/2013 at 03:17 PM
Happy Anniversary to a beautiful couple! Although I am just an online, know-through-the scrapbook-world person, you have shared your life and your family with all of us so sweetly. I hope you have a beautiful day of celebration! :)
Posted by: Gracie | 03/29/2013 at 04:39 PM
wow this blog post just sums up marriage in the most perfect way! Happy 10 years, and btw, you were a gorgeous bride, J must have been a happy guy when he first saw you that day :) That's my fave part of a wedding, the grooms face when he sees his bride...
Posted by: laurie lariviere | 03/29/2013 at 05:42 PM
Happy anniversary. It's a special day for me too as its our katys 10th birthday today.
Posted by: Cath | 03/29/2013 at 05:57 PM
Happy Anniversary to you both, what a lovely blog post. Best Wishes.
Posted by: libbywilko | 03/29/2013 at 06:21 PM
This is such a beautiful, sweet post Steph. Happy 10th Anniversary! I love "Love Stories" and this is a great one! Cheers to you both!
Posted by: clippergirl | 03/29/2013 at 06:22 PM
Big congratulations...double digits!!! Here's to MANY more!
Posted by: Tonya Dirk | 03/29/2013 at 06:51 PM
Congrats! That is the most gorgeous blog post. Love it
Posted by: Deb | 03/29/2013 at 07:08 PM
Congrats
Posted by: Ginna G | 03/29/2013 at 08:04 PM
So sweet. Happy anniversary!
Posted by: Linda Coleman | 03/29/2013 at 09:09 PM
Congratulations and blessings to a beautiful couple! How did you two meet anyway? k
Posted by: k | 03/29/2013 at 09:38 PM
Congratulations on your tenth wedding anniversary. May you both be blessed with many, many more years of love and joy together.
Posted by: Bessie Segal | 03/29/2013 at 09:45 PM
Congratulations, and Happy Anniversary Jimmy & Stephanie!!
Posted by: Mary Ann Jenkins | 03/29/2013 at 09:53 PM
Happy Anniversary!!! Happy 10 years together and many more to come!! I love the way you write, brings tears to my eyes and fills me with hope for anything/everything. My hubby is pretty amazing too and we will be celebrating our anniversary in 2 more days. Have a wonderful weekend celebrating with your man!!
Posted by: dawn | 03/30/2013 at 04:21 AM
What a beautiful post! Congrats!!
Posted by: Dawn S | 03/30/2013 at 06:25 AM
This is just beautiful. And sweet. And so filled with love. Happy Anniversary. xoxo
Posted by: Gayle W. | 03/30/2013 at 06:47 AM
CONGRATS to you two!
Posted by: Diana Waite | 03/30/2013 at 11:03 AM
happy anniversary!
Posted by: kate | 03/30/2013 at 11:08 AM
Happy Anniversary! And may you have many, many more happy years together. Becca :)
Posted by: Becca | 03/30/2013 at 01:47 PM
Happy Anniversary!! So happy for you. Wonderful blog post.
Posted by: Jenn V | 03/30/2013 at 01:54 PM
Happy, happy anniversary!!! Lovely words. By the way, Jimmy is lucky and blessed, too. :)
Posted by: MilliD | 03/30/2013 at 02:33 PM
Happy Anniversary. And thank you or blogging your story. I love following along.
Posted by: Rachel W | 03/30/2013 at 05:56 PM
congrats to you two & many many many more!
our 10year was on march 1 =))
xo
Posted by: christina rayevich | 03/30/2013 at 07:33 PM
tears...congrats again!! xxoo
Posted by: Christine Campbell | 03/30/2013 at 08:31 PM
Happy anniversary, Stephanie!! Love this post.
Posted by: Vera W. Yates | 03/30/2013 at 08:54 PM
Congratulations! God brings amazing people into our lives and blesses us in ways we could never had imagined on our own!
Posted by: Kristine | 03/31/2013 at 09:49 AM
Yall are so darn cute!!!!
Posted by: Koko @ Koko Likes | 04/01/2013 at 12:49 AM
What a great ride. May your next 10 years be filled with as much happiness as your first 10! Congratulations.
Posted by: Renee S. | 04/01/2013 at 05:39 AM
Lovely post (read almost a month late!) - we have our 10th coming up this year too - and I feel the same way :-)
Posted by: Tash | 04/22/2013 at 12:58 PM