Fourteen.

This is the good stuff.

Not the young and dumb and in love stuff.

The history. 
The working through our crap.
The fighting for the best.
The sacrifice.
The commitment.
The digging in when it hurts.
The pressing on when it matters.
The praying and crying out.
The challenging of each other.
The encouragement.
The rejoicing.
The despair.
The sleepless nights.
The care of the little ones entrusted to us.
The standing side by side at the sink each night dissecting our days.
The crazy.
The beauty.
The reason that we said yes.
The reason why we said forever.

Because forever is such a mystery when you are young and dumb.

Forever is everything when you have loved and fought and cried and coasted and celebrated and grieved and still get butterflies.

More than that day fourteen years ago.

So much more.

143 Jason.
I choose you.
Forever.

35 Comments

  1. AprilSeptember 12, 2012 at 5:10 PM

    I love this....cheers to being young and dumb...

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  2. KimSeptember 12, 2012 at 5:44 PM

    Hey - I love your blog and stalk it often :) Just wanted to say Happy Anniversary - it is also me and my husband's anniversary - it is the big 25 for us. 4 kids later (including surprise twins), we are everything you said above and you know what? It only gets better, it really does. Enjoy and celebrate!!

    Blessings,
    Kim K.
    kling6@optonline.net

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  3. UnknownSeptember 12, 2012 at 5:57 PM

    Happy anniversary! I am so happy for you!

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  4. ShonSeptember 12, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    That's what I am talkin' bout'! Congratulations to you and your hubby! May God continue to bless your marriage as you cling to Him. Your marriage is Blessed and Highly Favored!

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  5. Sara NeufeldSeptember 12, 2012 at 6:29 PM

    love this. so much. yes, good stuff. happy day, friend. congrats on 14. :)

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  6. Rena and Jesse FreySeptember 12, 2012 at 6:46 PM

    So, so, so well said. I love it. Happy anniversary. :)

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  7. LaurenSeptember 12, 2012 at 6:48 PM

    Happy Anniversary! So well put... you are inspiring-- thank you for that!

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  8. StacySeptember 12, 2012 at 6:52 PM

    Beautiful!

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  9. the.mrsSeptember 12, 2012 at 7:19 PM

    WELL SAID!!! Congratulations!

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  10. everydaymommaSeptember 12, 2012 at 7:33 PM

    Beautifully blessed my friend. So very beautiful! God bless you both and I pray you
    Have so many more years of awesomeness

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  11. BeckySeptember 12, 2012 at 7:37 PM

    Beautiful and so true! Love your wedding picture. It looks like the wedding scene from Emma! Or is it Pride and Prejudice? (I always mix those two up, lol) Anyway, Happy Anniversary! Ours is Friday! #21! Yay!

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  12. Kimberlee JostSeptember 12, 2012 at 8:05 PM

    Right on!
    Happy Anniversary kids.

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  13. likeschocolateSeptember 12, 2012 at 9:10 PM

    Congratulations!!!!!

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  14. JanetSeptember 12, 2012 at 10:08 PM

    WOOOO HOOOOOO! Congrats & Happppppy Annniversary!!!!!!!

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  15. LisaSeptember 12, 2012 at 10:10 PM

    Perfectly said. Happy anniversary!

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  16. UnknownSeptember 12, 2012 at 10:25 PM

    Wow, I wish I still had that, my husband died 23years ago, ten years into our marriage and I miss everything that we had. Happy Anniversary to you and your life partner.

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  17. Kristina AbelSeptember 12, 2012 at 10:30 PM

    Beautifully said; a true reminder that we did promise to love through the good times and the bad, for better or for worse. Happy Anniversary... Here's to a million more!!!

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  18. GigiSeptember 12, 2012 at 10:52 PM

    All around lovely sentiments, just lovely. Happy Anniversary to you both!

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  19. JulesSeptember 13, 2012 at 2:57 AM

    Happy anniversary to you both! Here's to many more years of the same! xx

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  20. CarrieSeptember 13, 2012 at 4:52 AM

    My husband and I celebrated our 10 year this year. The card he got me said "Love isn't in the falling, it's in the staying there" He then wrote inside - Let's give your grandparents a run for their money. My grandparents celebrated 61 years of marriage this year. Works for me.
    Favorite card ever.

    It's easy to say forever when the relationship is easy. When you haven't suffered pain, and loss, and hurt. So now is when it counts, when it matters.

    Hope you and your husband give my grandparents a run for their money as well!

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  21. TreceSeptember 13, 2012 at 9:13 AM

    Happy anniversary! Here's to many more to come.

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  22. {cuppakim}September 13, 2012 at 9:13 AM

    your story is a fairytale.
    the real kind.
    with the hard parts.
    and with the good parts.

    thanks for telling it. :) LOVE YOU and happy 14!!

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  23. forever folding laundrySeptember 13, 2012 at 9:44 AM

    definitely the good stuff.
    the good, real, worth-it-all stuff.
    happy 14 to you guys!

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  24. AngieSeptember 13, 2012 at 12:48 PM

    Love it! Happy 14th Anniversary to you both and to your fantastically awesome family!

    xoxo,
    Angie

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  25. UnknownSeptember 13, 2012 at 1:51 PM

    love this. such inspiring words for all of us that are married and still young and dumb. :)

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  26. katygirlSeptember 13, 2012 at 3:28 PM

    I love this.

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  27. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2012 at 4:01 PM

    14 yrs later and youre all still super darn cute. It is a choice- God is blessing for you for saying yes each year. XO- Happy Carson day!

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  28. CindersSeptember 13, 2012 at 4:29 PM

    freaking love.

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  29. ESGSeptember 13, 2012 at 8:57 PM

    I always remember that photo of you two kissing on your wedding day in your house :) Precious!

    Kristina
    Nook & Sea

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  30. missheatherpieSeptember 14, 2012 at 9:38 AM

    So glad you chose eachother - a real life love story! xox

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  31. AmandaSeptember 14, 2012 at 10:38 AM

    adorable
    perfectly said
    yay! for staying married ALWAYS

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  32. DeniseSeptember 14, 2012 at 4:45 PM

    beautifully said, julie.

    happy 14th anniversary. may you grow richer in Love as you journey together.


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  33. Jessica JohnsonSeptember 15, 2012 at 10:27 AM

    I love your love story. I think it's one of my faves. You two are the cutest. Happy Anniversary! Peanuts!

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  34. Olivia Lansing DesignSeptember 16, 2012 at 1:24 PM

    so sweet. i tied the knot last weekend and your optimism, grace, joy, beautiful family and passion for life inspire me weekly!

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  35. Lisamarie September 18, 2012 at 3:50 PM

    Happy Anniversary! I just found your blog through DrewB's blog. I see your "143". Is that pager code for "i love you"??? =)

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