7th Wedding Anniversary

So the day we were married... It was a Wednesday. Right in the middle of the week. I took the day off from work. My mother and I spent most of the day cooking and cleaning. At the last minute, I showered and we were on our way to the courthouse in Bellevue, WA. On the way, I realized I forgot to pick up cash to pay the Justice of the Peace. We drove with my mom and the girls in the back seat. Blaring music as usual. The traffic was terrible. We were waiting on the street right in front of the bank. I suggested to Justin he might get out of the car and hit the ATM. We weren't moving, so he would have plenty of time to jump back in before the light changed. Suddenly he jumped out of the car and ran to the ATM. My mom wasn't expecting this and started screaming "Runaway Groom!!!" She asked me what happened, and I said I didn't know. I played along that Justin had run away. It was hilarious. I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe when he jumped back in the car.

We didn't invite very many people to the ceremony. My friend (at the time) Julie, my cousin Pam and her husband. That was it. When we got to City Hall, the doors were locked. Julie pounded on the door like a maniac until someone answered. Again, we laughed hysterically.

The judge escourted us into a room and we began completing our marriage certificate. Pam's husband, Steve took pictures. Poor Justin was in so much pain he looked like he was about to throw up. My mom asked him if he was having second thoughts. He perked up a little and said no.

Justin and I wore the clothes we bought for the fantastic Christmas party we attended at El Goucho in Seattle. As we said our vows, we all began to cry. Our girls were dressed in little white matching dresses. It was honestly the most beautiful and heartfelt ceremony I have ever attended.

Justin and I had lost a baby a couple of months before we were married, and he was very ill. Our marriage was intended to provide a chance for him to see real doctors and possibly find a cure for whatever he had. We knew in our hearts we would be together for the rest of our lives. We didn't need a piece of paper to bind us to one another. It was one of the most beautiful days of my life. : )