Tag Archives: birthday

In Sickness & In Health

wedding

So, Mark and I are celebrating our 23rd anniversary today. Just shy of 3 weeks after his physical catastrophe.

I’m not an overly emotional or sentimental person but I clearly remember my voice cracking only once during our vows…”in sickness and in health”. In an instant, I was overwhelmed by the thought of him being sick and vulnerable.

He’s had some minor surgeries (that dual hernia operation just before our 10th anniversary wasn’t too fun) but nothing as challenging as this.

The thing is, as challenging as this is physically, emotionally and probably financially, I know it isn’t even close to the worst that can happen to a couple. Not even close.

So I’m thankful that we work well together because just about everything he does, we do together. I’m thankful that we enjoy each other’s company (as long as he doesn’t try to tell jokes). I’m thankful that we trust each other to get through this. And yes, I’m thankful that we love and trust each other and even on our worst days, there still isn’t anyone I would rather spend time with (no offense to my children, who come second in that category).

I don’t feel all that much different than that day 23 years ago. Marrying Mark felt like the rightest, most natural thing. Helping him do just about everything feels just as right and natural (though, I have to keep reminding him the kids can fetch the this or the that when they’re here).

Happy Anniversary. Oh and Happy Birthday to Luke who was our 5th anniversary gift!

Hannah birthday photo

She’s 16 and She Truly is Sweet!

Hannah birthday photo

Happy Birthday Sweet 16 Year Old!

(I really did write this on Hannah’s birthday (September 11) but got distracted by the day, which is ok because it was all about Hannah. She competed in the sectional tournament for tennis. The tournament started on her birthday and ended the next day and she is SECTION CHAMP! So proud of her and how she carries herself and how nice she is to all of her opponents and coaches. The coach’s wife told me that a player from another school told her how nice Hannah is and how the other girls across the section appreciate how nice she is). I would consider that a shameless brag except it’s truly how Hannah was born…….16 years ago! AACK!

Happy Birthday to Hannah! This birthday is especially sweet since Hannah’s back home with us after spending 2 years at a performing arts high school. She counted the hours that she spent on a bus over those two years and it equals about 1 1/2 months of her life. I say it’s more like 3 months since I only counted waking hours. Either way, it was a lot of time and we both appreciate how much more of it she has now.

This kid continues to blow me away with her confidence, her resourcefulness, her sweetness and her maturity. She’s still fun and joyful as ever.

I think I’ve bragged about her plenty in this space. If you don’t remember, you can read about her here, here, here and here.

They say a picture paints a thousand words, if that’s true, this girl has painted billions. Photography has turned into her primary passion thanks to my mom who gave her her first camera as a birthday gift. I was too practical to get one for her since I already had a point-and-shoot. Shame on me. I’ll leave you with some of her recent projects and photos.

Luke forehand

Mount Lebanon B16 Champ

 

Rafa Cincy Tennis

Western & Southern Open Champ

 

Bishop Canevin Boys Soccer

Aiden C header

 

dancers at Lincoln Park

Photo shoot with dancers at Lincoln Park

 

Kayla portrait

Kayla’s one of Hannah’s best shoots-always.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

 

Cincy Tennis Family

15 Years and 20 Years! Wow and Wow!

Luke Mountains

This is the best recent photo I have…really. 15 year old boys do not cooperate for photos

 

Happy Birthday to Luke! It’s true, 15 years really does go fast! He was born on our 5th wedding anniversary, yes….today we’ve been married for 20 YEARS! What, what?

Because of that fact, I always projected his age with our corresponding anniversary date…he’ll be 5 on our 10th anniversary, 10 on our 15th…15 on our 20th…and I’ve always tried to picture him at those ages. I think he’s pretty much how I imagined…fun, smart, athletic, polite, industrious, responsible and a loyal friend. I have to admit, I did not anticipate the intense goofiness but I’m used to it by now and am thinking he’ll always have it.

Cincy Tennis Family

After a fun day of watching matches and Federer practice!

 

Ever since we’ve been married, Mark and I have wanted to go to the pro tournament in Cincinnati. I have family there and went one time as a kid. Everyone always said what a great venue it is to watch tennis up close. Since we weren’t planning anything else, I decided this was the year. We had a quick trip. My cousin scored excellent seats for the first day of matches and we all had a great time. Our seats gave us access to “The Racquet Club”, pardon us. Little Mark was determined to lounge there. It was cooler and quiet and relaxing. They had free water up there (I found that out AFTER I spent $11.50 on 3 bottles of water-GRR).I was so satisfied when he finally got his chance, he was eyeing up these leather couches all day but they were always occupied.

Lounging at the Racquet Club

Mark “lounging”

It’s wild how fast 20 years has flown by. I realized that it’s the longest I’ve done anything.

I won’t get too syrupy here. Not my style but I do feel pure gratitude to have Mark.