March 17th, 2001

I wanted to post this wedding picture to commemorate our 9th wedding anniversary which took place yesterday. The time has gone quickly, yet I can hardly remember life before Garrett. It seems he has always been there with me. He has worked hard to try and learn all about the 24 years before he knew me, so he can talk with me about my memories just as if he had been a part of them. He is such a caring person who does well at remembering details. That is a great quality, to remember things people have told you so that they know you were really listening. I could use some improvement in that area. I ask people a lot of questions about themselves, but sometimes I am so busy thinking up the next question that I don't always listen to the answer as closely as I should. This is only one of many areas that Garrett has been a good example to me. He is a very loving father and friend to our little boys. He plays with them tirelessly every chance he gets, which sometimes includes staying up way past bedtime. But, I don't fault him for this because I know he just can't get enough of them and often his time at home is limited due to his busy work schedule. Garrett is also very diligent in his church calling as Young Mens' president. He really cares about those boys too, and tries to plan activities that will help them grow into responsible young men. Of course their parents do most of that work at home, but the Priesthood programs of the church are there to supplement the parents' efforts and give the boys responsibility to which they can rise. I know his experiences now in this calling will help him be prepared to be a father of teenage boys in just a few years. I didn't really know where this blog was headed when I started it, I just knew I wanted to pay tribute to my eternal best friend and sweetheart, Garrett DuAne Anderson. So, on with the tribute:

Thanks for always loving me, even those days when I have not been easy to love. Thanks for encouraging me in my many pursuits, and helping me keep focused on my most important job of motherhood. Thanks for being a 21st century man who believes that household chores are a shared responsibility. Thanks for folding the laundry and doing the dishes so often without being asked. Thanks for never saying, "I wish you were more..." and always saying, "I am so thankful for who you are". Thank you for leading our family in Spiritual things from attending church, to having weekly Family Home Evenings, to paying tithing and saying our prayers together. Thanks for finishing my sentences when I can't come up with the words, and for being quick to forgive unkind words I say things should have been left unsaid. Thanks for doing CPR on my jokes when necessary and for always being willing to eat my leftovers. I love you sweetheart, and look forward to many more years of life and eternity with you and your two sons. Most importantly, thanks for helping me become a mommy!