Over the weekend I pulled the old DSLR camera out of it's case. Sadly, I think it has been nearly a year since I captured a moment on that fancy little thing. Sure, it needed to be dusted off & my hands were a bit confused when I was forced to do the focusing manually instead of my iPhone "doin' the work"--but it felt amazing. I'm no professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination; it's just fun. Aaaaand... I'm keeping it real here: I don't tend to be the super organized planner type and we NEED a Christmas picture, darn it! Possible winner winner, chicken dinner right here. >>>

Turns out, we had a great time with our little photo shoot. Later in the day, I pulled them all up to do a little editing and caught myself staring, and staring, and staring. Wow. I mean wow. I think ya'll get by now I'm all about "the feels". These pictures were really giving me the warm and fuzzies. Creating that "feely" homey atmosphere is so important, but do we completely miss the mark if we forget about "the feels" from "our people"? I think so. (Welcome to the excessive quotation mark club.)

Featuring my main squeeze: This hunka-hunka and I will be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary later this month.

F I F T E E N ! I remember at our wedding reception my dad said in his speech that he couldn't have asked God for a better match for me. I was 22 at the time and don't think I could really fully appreciate what my dad was saying until just recently...

Ryan's the analytical type. He researches, he runs numbers, and researches. And...zzzzzz. BORING! I, do not, but SO appreciate him providing me cliff notes on such adult natured subjects like life insurance, cell phone plans, and taxes. 

He's on time--no, he's early. I am not. It's not that I do it intentionally; sometimes I cuddle a little too long with the kids in the morning while having one too many cups of coffee. But I SO appreciate him for his efficiency in getting us to church on time or I might not know there's a bell that rings right before church begins. 

He's calm--most of the time. I'm not--most of the time. (Let me clarify this one for those of you who have watched him coach a basketball game.) This quality really depends on the situation. It is a fact, though, that I may be the worriedest worrier of all things that ever worried. ;) He listens and calms, reassures and supports. I SO appreciate him letting me freak the freak out after I've diagnosed any simple family illness using Web MD (eye roll, WHY DO I DO THAT?!) 

It's always interesting to be involved in a relationship that has been through some weather; both beautiful sunny days and the dark stormy ones too. And while both of those kinda days are inevitable in life, it's nice to know you've got someone who will make sure you've got sunglasses and an umbrella when you need it. We sure aren't perfect. Our life isn't perfect. But, I've learned over the years, we are perfect for each other. Happy Anniversary, Ryan. Thanks for keeping me focused in on all the good stuff life has to offer. (And I'm also sorry for publicly writing all of this mushy stuff--but 15 years deserves it.)

{Farmer wave}

Rachel