Sunday, November 10, 2013

All Because Two People Fell In Love

 
 
Michael and Gail Forever...(It's so sappy I know, not normally a sappy person, but once in a while I suffer a case of extreme sentiment.)  You've been warned.
 
As our 15th Wedding Anniversary approaches I find myself thinking about our beginnings, where we are now, and where we're going.  We met in the autumn of 1995, married in the Autumn of 1998, and now in the Autumn of 2013, nearly twenty years later I realize we've quite a history together.  I almost wish blogs existed back then, I would have a much more detailed history of us...Not that I blog everything for crying out loud.

We met our first year at Salt Lake Community College.  This is a funny story, (funny - ironic, not funny - ha ha) I didn't plan to go to SLCC.  I was well on my way to the University of Utah.  But, due to a tumultuous, painful and truthfully, a very scary senior year, I had to change my plans.  Years later I would discover that was the most significant turning point in my life!  It was there that I met the young and very dashingly handsome Mr. Rimington when we both joined the Institute of Religion choir.  I wrote to him while on his mission, even though I was also writing to my high school sweetheart while he was serving in the military, (we had agreed to see other people).  I never thought Mike and I would write more than a few "kick-off" to your mission letters, but God had other plans and we became fast friends!

After a year of writing to Mike I realized I didn't just enjoy our instant friendship, but I truly loved him.  Discovering how I knew I loved him was a special experience for me that I won't share here.  But I was certain I loved him and now I was counting down the days until he returned.  Which eventually he did and three months later we were engaged, three months after that we were married in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. 

Now four babies, seven years of school, fours different residences, and seven vehicles later, we are still going strong.  We've put in a front and back yard together, built a shed together, finished a basement and remodeled our upstairs together.  We've seen each other through changes in employment, nursed one another back to health when ill, and grown together as we've learned about my depression and anxiety.  We've cried on one another's shoulders, shared our deepest concerns for our children and family.  We've read the scriptures together and shared our testimonies with each other in our words and our deeds. 

He compliments my weaknesses with his strengths, and I hope I do the same for him.  Mike, I love you more than these simple, inadequate words can express.  I will love you forever.

                                                  First Family Photo with Emma
 
From our first baby to our last,
Emma, Aaron, Rebekah and Moriah
are here...
 
                Gail and Moriah on her blessing day
 
all because two people fell in love.

                                                                  First year anniversary
 
Happy 15th Anniversary Babe!
Here's to another wonderful 15 years and an eternity more!

 
 

Saturday, November 2, 2013

4


We are loving four!!!  One, two and three were uhm, let's say challenging, ok I'll be honest, they were really hard.  I'm older now with less energy and Mo has a defiant and stubborn side.  But just when I was about to pull my hair out, she turned four.  Oh glorious four - age of reason, age of independence (the good kind), and in Mo's case the age of potty training.  Hallelujah!  Here are snapshots from her birthday parties, (she had a combined party with her friend who turned four a few days earlier, and of course her family party). 
 
Birthday Rock
 

Mo and Abby...Blow out the candles!


 Sure take a bite, it's your cake after all.
 

Birthday Wishes!  (Don't do it Bekah)




 
More presents!  I could get used to this.

This Is Halloween...