Eight Years and Counting...

The past 8 years of marraige have been times of major changes -- having two (almost three) little girls, moving 8 times, graduating college, switching jobs, moving, and basically just living through some of life's greatest joys and greatest frustrations.

For our anniversary, Mark took me to Las Vegas to see Garth Brooks. It was FANTASTIC!! It brought back memories of when we were college students and had so much time to just be with one another. He is and always has been the romantic in our relationship.

A few things I love aobut Mark...

He is just FUN!!! He has a great, contagious laugh and really is just so funny. If you could only hear the types of things he says to me when no one is around, you would know where Launa comes from! :)

Mark is absolutely loyal and would do anything for the people he loves (just don't get on his bad list). He sincerely cares about people and takes an interest in them.

He is extremely protective of me and has always made me feel safe. If he feels like anyone has ever mistreated me or hurt my feelings in any way -- WATCH OUT!! I do not like confrontation, so while his methods are a little more up front than I would choose, I am grateful he is willing to fight the small battles in life that just have to be fought. He can't stand for me to be unhappy. If I'm mad, he will never leave the situation alone until he feels that it has been resolved-- a gift and a curse. :)

Mark is an AM person (also a gift and a curse). His internal alarm clock goes off at about 5:30 AM every morning. On the up side, he works and works and works and is pretty good at just getting things done. On the down side, I like no chit-chatting or loud noises in the morning. Occasionally, this causes some conflict.

He adores our little girls and they absolutely adore him. For some reason, Mom just never is as fun as Dad. He is willing to play "chase" around the house, and give pony rides, and is just really sweet with them. When I get them all dressed and their hair all fixed, they go find him and twirl around so that he can tell them how beautiful they look. He secretly likes that they are animals.

He is a "Man's man" with all that comes with it.

After being married to Mark for eight years, I have learned so much about him and myself. I said I didn't want to be bored, and our lives are never boring!!! Here's to many, many more years driving each other nuts and laughing about it! :)