Falling in Love Rocks

My 7th wedding anniversary is next weekend... yes, I have been married for (almost) 7 wonderful years to my sweet and wonderful husband, Jim. 

You may know that I met my husband when I was just 7 years old. He was two years younger and happened to be in my younger brother's kindergarten class.

Jim and my brother became good childhood friends, and long story short, we became friends.... and then years and years later more than friends :) Now we are married and have four gorgeous children. I love him more than words could ever express. Six years ago, we look a 'one year anniversary trip' to Hawaii. It was stunning. One of the things everyone said we HAD TO DO was the Drive to Hana. We encountered gorgeous waterfalls and winding roads that hugged the Pacific. At one point, my husband slammed on the brakes and hopped out of the car. He spotted this sign while driving and had to take a picture of it. I love it. We used to have it hanging on the wall in our first apartment, but these sorts of pictures were quickly replaced by pictures of our little ones. 

Our love story is unique and wonderful, even though I was blind to seeing that this good man was there in my life the whole time. However, my father was always in the wings rooting for Jim. When we were still friends, my dad would ask me why I didn't date Jim... he would tell me that Jim was such a nice guy. Turns out he was right.  My dad is a smart man. 

On the evening of August 4th, my mom called to tell me that my dad had suffered a seizure and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. My dad is rarely sick, so the whole evening was surreal.  After running blood work and a CT scan, we discovered that he had a large brain tumor.  He was admitted to the hospital, and thankfully, an MRI on Friday morning confirmed that his tumor was benign... but it still had to be removed.  He had his tumor removed on Tuesday, August 9th. 

This week has been very emotional and exhausting. I have always been so close to my father, and he is truly one of my best friends: 

On my wedding day... 

He is also a loving grandfather that is adored by his grandchildren: 

I love this picture of him holding my daughter making silly faces, while she looks at him so adoringly... 

before he absolutely cracks her up...

My husband, Jim, with my oldest son and my dad (Halloween 2007)....

Here he is goofing around my middle son at a restaurant....

Here he is holding my youngest son (Thanksgiving 2009).

I am so proud of my dad for facing this major surgery and the unknown... and for being a fighter. He tackled some tremendous feats this week, and the great news is that he came home from the hospital today. 

As my husband says, the real hero in this story is my mother. 

My mom is a very emotional person. She cries at any greeting card you give her... even if it is a humorous card. This last week, she was a tower of strength. She was constantly at the hospital, holding his hand, rubbing his legs, and telling him how handsome he was, even while wearing hospital scrubs and a 'Brain & Spine Institute' blue bandana on his head. Her love for him was on full display this week.

I guess my long, sentimental post can be wrapped up like this... 

Remember while planning your wedding that you are also planning a marriage... one that will promise to be true in good times and in bad, 

in sickness and in health... 

Because falling in love rocks, but being in love and staying in love really rocks too. 

xoxo