Seven years together!

I feel like we've been married long enough to be able to say I LOVE being married without being accused of just being a starry-eyed newlywed who is still in the honeymoon phase. I love hearing Nate walk through the door when he comes home from work, and I love seeing him play with the kids. I love spending time with him and I love hearing him laugh. I love making him fabulously unhealthy treats to surprise him. I love all the funny faces he makes. I love how encouraging and kind Nate is to all the people that cross his path. There isn't anyone else I would rather be with than him.

I didn't know the instant I saw Nate that we would get married, but I do remember thinking it would be really nice if we could get married - although I had no idea who he was. A few weeks later, Nate told me before he left for Ukraine that he understood if I would want to date other people while he was so far away. I immediately said, "I'll wait!" Because I couldn't imagine being happy with anybody else - so why bother?

We know that our marriage has taken a serious beating from all the change and upheaval we have been through in the past seven years - but we are so happy together despite every challenge that has come our way. I feel like our last name could be called Patience instead of Weeks. Before we were married, I waited several months for Nate to come back from Ukraine - and in the meantime found out many people thought our relationship wouldn't survive him being in Europe while I was at school in Chicago. We were thrilled to prove them wrong. At the time, being so far apart seemed unbearably difficult but it was just the beginning of the challenges we would face. We didn't really see each other while we were engaged - maybe once a month if we were lucky once I was back at school, and Nate was working full-time at camp. Then we waited for me to finish senior year at North Park and contemplated eloping to South Dakota just for fun (yeah, that didn't happen). While working at camp we waited for God to bring Nate new employment which came right after we found out we were going to have a little one, and we left Lake Beauty Bible Camp, only to wait for Nate to finish grad school, and he took on a full course load while working full-time. And now here we are in Delaware, getting through life one day at a time, and waiting for our new baby to join our family - while waiting for so many other things as well. We have had to move on from places we love and say hard good-byes to people we haven't ever wanted to leave behind. But I can honestly say our relationship has never buckled through any of this. We're tough.

I don't know where we'll be seven years from now, but I do know that as long as we look to God and together seek His will, we will be happy no matter what. Neither of us can imagine being married without Christ being the center of our relationship. His yoke is easy and His burden is light - and this definitely applies to our marriage. God's love for us and our love for each other has made marriage a total delight. What a blessing!

Happy anniversary, baby!

Backyard fun

Viggo had Fun Day at preschool today, and came home looking like this! Svea just couldn't take her eyes off of him, she was mesmerized by all the face paint.

I couldn't believe it when I turned around and saw Viggo had climbed so high up this tree. The first thing I thought was, "I'm seven months pregnant. How on earth can I get him down?" Thankfully he figured it out on his own - with a little determination (and some encouragement from Svea and I). Then he climbed right back up again . . .

Svea loves sitting on the tricycle but doesn't use the pedals.

Today she was thinking about it, though, and really watching Viggo pedal around on his bike.

Here she goes!

Viggo came over to give her some advice . . .

. . . and a push or two. She's not quite ready to pedal yet, but it is fun to watch her try.

The pretty pink dress

Svea got this dress as a birthday present from Grandma and Grandpa Zeke. She loves it!

After awhile of running around looking so beautiful Svea decided Nate could use some company.

She was giggling like crazy! It is always so fun to watch them play.

Mother's Day together

On Mother's Day we went to Longwood Gardens. Everybody else in Delaware and Pennsylvania (and all their moms) was also there - we've never seen it so busy! It was gorgeous out! We were blessed with a wonderful day together. Nate, Viggo and Svea made everything sweet - as usual!

A nice Japanese tourist offered to take our photo. Svea couldn't get her hands out of her mouth and Viggo is making a face because he's wiggling a loose tooth with his tongue. But family photos of us are rare, so this picture is a keeper.

Viggo playing with the fountain in the Idea Garden.

We had fun feeding the catfish. But wow, are they ugly. Svea kept saying, "Catfish - stanky! Eww!" (Viggo defended them and said they were cute.) I'm sure they were very stinky but thankfully we didn't get close enough to find out.

My cute guy in a tree, where he's happy.

You might be thinking, if it was so busy, why is no one else in this picture? There's a good reason this path is called the Hidden Walk.

What a little sweetie.

Even though there were plenty of blooms everywhere, I really didn't have time to take photos of flowers. There were so many people that if you stopped to take a photo, you ran the risk of being run over. We'll just have to go back again soon.

Viggo watches a waterfall.

Without fail, Viggo finds another tree to climb before we go.

Dirty jobs

Our garden is completely naked and looks really sad. Time for some TLC.

Svea makes a big hole even bigger. That's helping, right? (Viggo routinely digs in that hole for worms to keep as overnight pets. Worm sleepovers happen on the porch.)

Viggo insisted on watering the seeds we threw everywhere. Bear in mind it's been raining for the past several days and we're expecting thunderstorms tonight, but he wanted to make sure the seeds were officially watered.

Svea made the sidewalk beautiful.

Here's some real gruntwork happening! More worms and bugs were unearthed.

My hardworking crew.

Adventures in the minivan

My camera was in the car, so I couldn't resist taking these photos of Svea at the wheel while we were in the Target parking lot today. She really wanted to turn on her favorite music.

Whee!!

Mother's Day tea party

The other day I received an invitation to attend a tea party.

Isn't it cute? Viggo said he was sure to make it my favorite color.

Viggo and I had so much fun! His teachers and classmates worked hard to make a special meal for all of us moms. (Yes, I look like I'm half-asleep. Well, that's just life right now!)

So many yummy treats to eat! Viggo even ate his cucumber sandwich with gusto (although later he said it was "weird").

The preschoolers chose "Deep and Wide" to sing for the moms. It was pretty fun to watch! Those are Viggo's buddies. Aren't they cuties?

I even got presents! A purple carnation and a painted pot with marigold seeds. It was such a nice way to spend the morning. I wish there were preschool tea parties more often.