9.1.07

Hi everybody, it's John for once! Ash has been doing an amazing job keeping the blog updated with pics and funny stories about our little family. There seems to always be something going on with us, but that's the way we like it...gotta stay moving so we don't realize how old we're getting :). But Anyway....

If you would have told me a year ago that I would be celebrating my 5th Wedding Anniversary in Arkansas, I would have told you to take your meds. Heck, if you would have told me that 3 months ago I would have thought you were taking crazy pills. And yet, here we are. Opportunities rarely present themselves when you expect them to, but that's no reason to overlook them. Northwest Arkansas isn't exactly South Beach, but the people and area are fantastic, the job is great, and the family is happy, so what else could you ask for?

Five years ago Ashleigh and I took our vows in front of family and our best friends. It was a beautiful day, it was an incredible venue, and it was the best day of my life. Over the course of the last five years we have lived in 5 different homes, in three different states. We've had a cat, a dog and a baby. Ash got her degree and a great job, and I've had four different positions with Wrigley. We've vacationed in Costa Rica, Mexico, Vegas and Southern California, and been to about 30 weddings. We've driven two Dodge Caravans, a Grand Prix, two Jeep Cherokee's, and a Ford Edge. We've heard David Allen Coe sing "You Never Call me by my Name" at a bar in Wisconsin, and Paul McCartney sing "Hey Jude" under the stars at Wrigley Field.

It's been an amazing journey these past five years. It feels like they have flown by, but we've done so much in that time, it almost seems like we've been married 10 years! At the risk of sounding cliche; every year has been better than the one before. I've worked hard for a lot of the things I have today, but I gotta be honest; when it comes to Ashleigh I just got lucky. She could have ended up with anyone, but she chose me (ok, it took some convincing...haha). When it comes to love and this family we've created, I'm a lucky, lucky guy and that's all there is to it.

And so I just want to say a BIG public thank you to Ashleigh for her patience, understanding and strength not only for the last two months for the past five years. I can't imagine having anyone else in my corner, thank you for sticking with me through the crazy times we've had and the crazy times to come. You probably could have done better than me, but I'm glad you didn't :).

9.1.2007

John and Ashleigh Wedding Pictures