happy anniversary!

on saturday, march 8, my parents will celebrate their 22nd anniversary. twenty-two freaking years!! that seems like such a long time! i am so proud of them.

i know they are not a "perfect" couple ... nobody's perfect. i have seen them have their squabbles and their ups and downs. i have seen fights and mean words and sometimes i have seen them be ugly to each other.

but i have also seen the love. i have seen the hugs. the kisses. the touches. the looks. i love the days when my mom still greets my dad at the door after work with a kiss. i love when my dad snaps my mom's behind with a dishtowl and she giddily runs away. i love the days when everyone is happy and you can tell they are still happily married.

i consider myself very blessed to have parents who are celebrating 22 years together. truly, that is quite an achievement these days! not many people can say that. they have another achievement coming up too ... they have a daughter who is turning 21 later in the month!! my parents were married when my dad was 20 and my mom was almost 20. my sister was born when my dad was 21 and my mom was almost 21. amber was born 5 days after their first anniversary!! i know, i always tell them they were crazy!!

but when i consider they only had three months as a married couple before my mom was pregnant, and only a year together before they had a baby, that makes me all the more proud. even though it wasn't easy, they have made it through hard times and come out still together!

my parents have been an awesome example to my brother and sister and i. we have had amazing role models for making a marriage last. i have definitely learned things from my parents that i DO want to do in my marriage ... and a few things i DON'T want to do as well.

happy anniversary, mom and daddy. i'm so proud of you!!!