To Missed Opportunities...Happy 12th Love

So, 12 years ago today I married Josh.  I was scared sh**less that day.  On the surface I was all glowy and light, inside I was freakin' out MAN!  But I jumped.  A friend of mine told me that "if I wasn't scared to death on that day, I wasn't taking it seriously enough."  That soothed me.  So, I told myself, she's either a very wise woman, or just as neurotic as me. Either way, I didn't feel so alone in my nerves.  And I did it.

Flash back to sophomore year in High School.  Age 15.  My girlfriend, Christine tells me, "Have you seen Josh Goddard?" I was like, "Who is Josh Goddard?" She said, "He is a baseball player - he is SO hot.  And I want credit for discovering him!!!"  I was all, "Okay, Josh Goddard is hot, big whoop." I knew if he had already been "discovered" a shy girl like me had no chance.  But I did meet him, and he was about as sweet and funny as a 15 year old boy could be.  I thought he was cute, along with everyone else, and I resigned him to the file of "never gonna happen."  I dated one of the other guys in his circle junior and senior year, and was perfectly happy, no complaints. 

Flash forward to 1998. Josh and I remained good friends and resurfaced after my failed engagement when I was 24.  After that engagement, I honestly felt broken, and that I could never know love again.  Wow.  How wrong I was.  We began talking one day and then every day since.  Engaged September 1998.  Married August 1999.  We got married in the 90's!! Feel so old. 

Flash forward to today.  2011.  12 years of marriage, 23 years of friendship, 2 children, 3 houses, 6 heart surgeries (J was there for 5 of them), 2 near death experiences, 3 pacemakers, 2 near foreclosures (same house), and countless laughs, kisses, and hugs, and other things....that you know all about.

And this summer? What do you do? You nominated me for "I am Modern" magazine's most inspirational mother - and of over 450 entries, I get chosen? And now, we are to be featured in a magazine about our story.  You are everything to my story. 

Without you..I would be lost.  Love you so very much. Here's to dozens upon dozens more.