top ten days

Every so often when something especially wonderful and unexpected happens, I add it to my mental list of the best days of my life. I call them my top ten days. In no particular order, here are six of my top ten days.

1. The day I told Katie I was pregnant. I had a little bib made that said something about Auntie Katie and mailed to her house. We were face timing when she opened it and I could tell by the way she started giggling that she was about to make the same announcement to me. We will never get over the fact that our due dates were three days apart. It will always be one of the greatest joys of my life.

2. The day Aaron and Elizabeth were born. I had been asking Mom for a baby for months. I was adamant the baby be a sister. In one day I not only got a sister, I got TWO babies. I was thrilled. I didn't realize until years later how much extra work it was to suddenly have two babies when Mom was only expecting and prepared for one. All I knew was all my 5 year old dreams had come true.

3. The Spouse Spur ride. Shortly after we got married I joined Christopher at work for a spouse event. We got to ride in tanks, do an obstacle course and shot various guns. It's still some of the most fun I've ever had. 

4. The first Army ball I attended. I was so excited when Christopher invited me to a ball a few months after we met. I had no idea what to expect but I knew 1000% I wanted to go. I wore the bridesmaids dress for Daniel and Erika's wedding (I don't think it would fit over my thigh today) and Christopher paid for me to get my hair and nails done. I felt so special. Growing up, Elizabeth and I kept a running list of soldiers we saw. We didn't live near a post so we didn't see them often but we were always on the lookout. The ball was the first time I went on an Army post and out of habit I almost remarked to Christopher that I saw soldiers. No kidding. That's like pointing out grapes at a vineyard. Thankfully that was during my shy phase when I didn't say much to him so I didn't humiliate myself.

From another day on that same trip. This was the day Christopher asked what I wanted my engagement ring to look like. Let's not forget this was only the third visit we'd had since meeting.

Look at those young kids!

5. The day Daniel told me Erika was pregnant with Ivy. It is not an exaggeration to say I was more excited about her impending arrival than I was when I discovered I was pregnant. Daniel called to say they wouldn't be able to go to our cousin's wedding in April "because Erika will be too close to her due date to travel." I thought I misheard. Surely he meant a date she was due to close on a house at work. I asked for confirmation. "What kind of due date?" "Erika's. She's having a baby girl in May." I screamed and started to cry. I waited YEARS for them to have a baby. I had been planning their baby shower since they got engaged. I even had a personalized baby gift for them for that long. I was beyond thrilled. I instantly went to the store and bought a bib that said "my aunt is my bff." I told AB, who was only two at the time, that Auntie Erika had baby Ivy in her belly. I asked if she loved baby Ivy and she said, "I yove fried rice." I appreciate her food enthusiasm, but new babies top even fried rice.

They didn't tell anyone until she was past seven months pregnant then Ivy was born a month early so I only had to wait about eight weeks for her arrival. 

6. Josh Groban and Josh Turner concerts. Several years ago, Josh Groban was coming to a city near us and I so badly wanted to go. I didn't have the money for a ticket so I resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn't be able to go. The day before the concert, Andrew surprised me with two tickets. I wasn't expecting it and to this day it's one of the best gifts I ever received. We sat next to the aisle about 10 rows from the front. At one point Josh walked down the aisle next to us as he was singing and momentarily held my hand. I repeat, WE HELD HANDS. It was one of the best moments of my life. If the security guard hadn't pushed him along I might have proposed.