Without question...

Chip was down on one knee asking me to make him the happiest man on earth and say yes to being his wife about this time- 14 years ago.

I said "yes...but you have to understand..."

And then I went on to tell him how I was so opposed to having kids- ever- I made him promise me that he never, ever wanted kids either. He did. He said he could live without kids, but he couldn't live without me, and with that, we were engaged. It was a really wonderful time in both of our lives. The photobooth pictures here are some we took, I think, on the day or within the week we were engaged. The last set of pics we took on that winter on one of our dates out at the Mall of America.

I love seeing how happy we look, how much fun we had together, and I love that even though I had my heart set against falling into a relationship at that point in my life, that I couldn't help myself when it came to Chip. I was smitten from the very first date. He was the smooth...or otherwise we were just 'that meant' to be together. {We were married about 14 months later.}

I regret over and over that I was so selfish though at that time in my life, that I made him agree to 'no kids'. I really was that set against having kids consume my time, my life, my money, my agenda. I was so selfish that at the time, it didn't even sound ridiculous to me when I made him promise me such a thing.

But God was already at work in my heart and in our lives. I am so glad that He was. I am so glad that He was willing to have me angry and hurt and depressed at Him for allowing me to get pregnant {we found out the morning of our first annivesary weekend that we were expecting a baby- Teagan..} and yet He knew what was best for us in our lives at that time. Even if it didn't fit my agenda.

I am so glad that God, through Teagan and through Chip, softened my heart and made me "see" my selfishness. I am so glad that I have grown and changed and lived and learned and followed a path that I never would have even been on had it not been for many events in my life. I am so glad that I said "yes" to Chip fourteen years ago. I am so glad he even asked me to join him in this life journey we are on- even when I needed a change of heart.

I would say "yes" again to him. Without question.

It has been one of the best things decisions of my life.

I love you, Chip and I thank you a hundred times over for asking me to be yours. Forever.