Message to my husband

I love you, Joey. And I need your love.
I trust you and I trust our love.
And because of our love, I am making a commitment to you for the rest of my life.

I want to be your wife, and I want you to be my husband.
I affirm this commitment to you now before God and our families and and friends (and blog readers).
I promise to support you in who you are and the ways you are growing.

I will be faithful to you and honest with you.
I will be there for you in times of fear, confusion, and difficulty; in joy, growth, and fulfillment
So that our love may continue to grow, and together we may serve God and others,
As long as we both shall live.

(Our wedding vows originally written and read by my parents, Bill and Kathy Pandiani)

We've had many, many adventures since the establishment of Team Hawk 8 years ago.  I am still absolutely floored that I have been so blessed to have Joey Hawkins as my huz.  He claims I've been in love with him since I was 15.  While that's not quite true, I will say that I knew there was something special about him way back then. . . and maybe I had a little crush on him.  He was (is) the really cute, absolutely hilarious, older guy.  I still shake my head when I think how crazy it is that we're married.  Definitely something I wouldn't have predicted when I first met him 14 years ago (whoa, that's almost half my life!).  Definitely something I had a glimmer of hope for on our first date 10 years ago this weekend.  And definitely something that has made me thankful every single day since we said, "I do."

So, to my favorite person in the world: I thank the Lord for giving me the gift of your precious love.  I don't like to think of who I would be without you.  I do like to think of who I've become with you.  Sometimes I think that one of the readings at our wedding should have been "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss because we've been some amazing places, had some amazing memories, and grown together into an amazing family (exhibit A: Baby A).  Thank you for going places with me.  You're the best thing in my life.  

Here are a smattering of favorite photos in no particular order:

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

D.C.

San Diego

El Paso

Mazar-E-Sharif

Juarez/El Paso Border

D.C.

Ciudad Chihuahau

Texas

Babur's Garden, Kabul

Grand Canyon

Epic Sounders Victory

Hawaii

London

Virginia

Switzerland