a little story for you

                                                           once upon a time, this girl

                                                                     met this boy

                                                and fell deeply, madly, crazily, in love.

they decided to get married. before they did however, something happened. the girl was pregnant. a little out of order, a little surprising, but they were excited and happy anyways.

Elleia Linden, born 8 weeks early on august 19th 2006. she was 4 pounds and stayed in the hospital for a month. scary, but she was the biggest blessing the girl and boy could ever have imagined.

t                 he girl was in love. not just with the boy, but with the little baby he had given her.

                       when their love child was 5 months old, the boy and the girl got married.

they couldn't afford a real wedding, so they got married in beautiful burlington, just with family. the girl carried a bouquet of white tulips. on that day, the boy promised her that after they had been married 5 years, they would have a vow renewal ceremony, and she could have the "wedding" she had dreamed of since she was a little girl.

Elle made the boy and girl very, very happy. but the girl wanted something badly. she wanted another baby. another child to prove to the world of the love between her and the boy. another baby to love, cherish, adore.

Rielynn Lucia, a perfect package from Heaven. ten fingers, ten toes, sweet pink baby lips, and dark brown eyes. an angel.

Elle was very, very, very happy.

the girl was very, very, very happy.

                                                 the boy was very, very happy.

the girl's heart was full of love for the family God had given her.

loving, handsome, caring, adoring husband.

inquisitive,courageous,vivacious 4 year old.

gentle,sweet,silly 1 year old.

but she remembered something. a promise made to her on her wedding day.

by her husband.

a promise that when they made it to 5 years, they could have a vow renewal to celebrate their love,

their marriage, and their family.

in january we will have been married 5 years.

that vow renewal is coming up.

theknot.com is my favorite new website.

im surrounded by visions of cherry blossoms,

chocolate fountains,

billowy white tents on a perfectly manicured green lawn.

the sun setting gracefully in the background.

the sky a painting of purples, reds and oranges.

then i remember something.

i remember that when we met, we took a walk on a beach.

thats where we had our first kiss.

first held hands.

thats when i first realized i could love and live with this man for my entire life.

simple, really.

because a marriage ceremony is really about only 2 people.

me and him.

and in our case, our kids too.

so i'm still planing our vow renewal ceremony.

i'm going to wear a fabulous dress, there will be a dessert bar, and my friends and family will be there.

but as for all the extravagence that goes with wedding ceremonies in 2011...

there wont be too much of that.

 when i look into his eyes

and repeat the vows i made to him 5 years ago,

vows i meant...

i'll promise him again i'll never leave his side.

i'll smile at the family we created together

and thank God for bringing me into this life i always wanted.

in the end, isn't that what it's really all about, anyways?