Fifteen

 I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you -  Roy Croft


Fifteen.  When you initially hear that number you probably think it is rather small by comparison to others.  For example, if you could fill your gas tank with $15.00 you would think that was a great deal, right?  If you knew there were only 15 students per classroom at your child's school you would be happy with that as well.  So in most cases, the number fifteen seems on the smaller end of the scale.  Well, for me, fifteen means A LOT!!!

It means A LOT of laughter, A LOT of patience, A LOT of struggles, A LOT of smiles, A LOT of overall happiness and A LOT of growth.

Jeff and I will be married fifteen years this week and in this day and age I think that is a huge accomplishment!

I remember my parent's reaction when Jeff finally proposed, "It's about damn time," my Dad said.  We had dated for about five years before he asked me.  One thing that just floors me is I was a mere 19 years old and he was 22 years old when we first started dating.  I am now pushing 40, which means I have been with Jeff for more than half of my life.  To me that is some crazy shit!  More than half my life?!  **she shakes her head***  Wow!

Although I am getting older and I'll admit my memory does fail me at times, I can remember every little detail of our wedding day.  And even 15 years later I wouldn't change a thing about it.  To me it was simply one of the most beautiful days of my life and filled would so much love with family and friends, and a ton of fun!!!

The ceremony was perfect and I may be biased here but I think our sermon was the best I've ever heard at a wedding ceremony.  Not only because it was based on Christian values but it was also very comical and our minister, Barry, did an awesome job of making it more personable and spoke about how we met.  Which I will touch on a little bit right now.

Jeff and I both attended Random Lake High School but he was a Senior when I was a Freshman so we didn't have any classes together and only knew each other in passing each other in the hallways.  Don't think I wasn't checking him out then already though, I was :)

In fact, one day while sitting in the choir room with some of my girlfriends we were talking goofy and we decided to pick out one boy from each of the high school grades that we would want to kiss if we ever had the chance and well, yes, for the Senior class I picked Jeff Dahm.  I never really thought it would ever happen.

So, although we never really spoke the entire time I went to high school, when I was waitressing at the Midway Restaurant he would come in there to eat with his Grandpa Dahm or his Dad and well, long story short, we eventually started talking on the phone here and there and the rest is history.

So, back to the wedding.  Here are some of the things I remember the most.

1)  It was H-O-T that day.  That summer kind of reminds me of our current summer, not much of one.  Not many days in the 90s at all the entire summer, but our wedding day I believe it was 95 degrees.  One good thing going for us is that there was a little breeze, thank goodness.

2)  It was a large wedding.  We had 10 couples not including ourselves and our church was filled that day.

3)  It was fun!!!  Holy cow did we have a good time.  Between the fun our bridal party had with each other to the reception and how fun it was I couldn't have asked for a better time.  The dance floor was packed all night long and pretty much all of our bridal party was cutting a rug that night.  Our wedding video is hilarious to watch.  Jeff even danced to a fast song during the grand march.  That is the one and only time I've seen him dance and he totally caught  me off guard when he did it.

Jeff cutting a rug during our Grand March.

4)  The garter toss was also hilarious.  Well not the toss itself, but Jeff retrieving the garter from my leg.  He would go under the dress as if to get the garter and then come back out numerous times huffing and puffing as if he was trying to get air, and then he would dive back under for more. 

Jeff getting the garter from my leg.  Quite an experience!

5)  To make the reception interesting for the crowd, we also had some twists.  Our first game involved all of the bridesmaids and myself, and we all sat on chairs while Jeff was being blind folded.  Once the music started Jeff was led to each of us in a row so that he could feel our legs from the knees down only.  His job was to figure out which legs were mine.  Surprisingly enough, out of all of us, he was able to narrow his picks down and his final pick was me.  Hurray!

Hurray!  You got your girl!!!

 The second part of this game was that all of the groomsmen then stood in a line while I was being blind folded.  My job was to feel all of their butts and try to figure out which one was Jeff's.  I thought for sure I would have no problem figuring this out, BUTT (no pun intended), they all threw me for a loop when they decided to drop their pants for this game, well most of them anyway.  In fact, a few of the guys decided to hike their undies up their cracks so I would feel skin when I went to touch.  NOT NICE!  Needless to say, I DID NOT pick Jeff and failed.  And the saddest part is, the groomsman I felt up the most was my big brother :(

Me giving the no sign to Jeff's butt.  Oops!

So, it's crazy to think it has been fifteen years already and like I said, I wouldn't change a thing about it.  In fact, it would be a hell of a lot of fun to go back to that day and do it all over again.  I'm just so thankful for everything we have become and look forward to everything else we can share together.

If there is anything I have learned over the years it is to have a lot of patience, compromise and be grateful.  Grateful for each other, grateful for the time we have and never go to bed at night without a kiss goodnight and an "I love you".

Here is looking forward to another 15 years together and then some.  I can hardly to wait to see what journey the next 15 years will bring!!!  See ya!!!