May 8, 1996

May 8th, 1996 was one of the most important days of our entire life! I mean, just think about it...what if that shy 13 year old boy wouldn't have written that "Check Yes or No" note?! And what if that awkward, quiet girl wouldn't have checked "yes"? Kinda crazy to think about how our entire lives might have turned out very differently! I know that our story is very unique and that 9 times out of 10, young relationships like ours, don't last. Now that Mackenzie is almost the age we were when we first became "Brian and Candace," I can totally understand why my parents were freaking out! Eek!! It is so fun to look back now though, at how far we have come, and see how God has had his hand upon our life together! I wouldn't change a thing about it! 

It's crazy to think that we have been together for 23 years. 

That makes me feel O-L-D! 

Looking forward to the next 23 years, my love!

I think this may have been taken the first day we kissed, under the big tree on the elementary playground. Haha!

Our 9th grade school pics...we were very in love! =0)

Just look at those baby faces!

Of course, since it pretty much tells the story of us, this is one of my all-time favorite songs! 

It started way back in third grade

I used to sit beside Emmylou Hayes

A pink dress, a matching bow, and her ponytail

She kissed me on the school bus but told me not to tell

Next day I chased her around the playground

Cross the monkey bars to the merry-go-round

And Emmylou got caught passing me a note

Before the teacher took it I read what she wrote

"Do you love me do you want to be my friend?

And if you do

Well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand

If you want to

I think this is how love goes

Check yes or no"

Now we're grown up and she's my wife

Still like two kids with stars in our eyes

Ain't much changed, I still chase Emmylou

Up and down the hall, around the bed in our room

Last night I took her out in a white limousine

Twenty years together she still gets to me

Can't believe it's been that long ago

When we got started with just a little note

"Do you love me do you want to be my friend?

And if you do

Well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand

If you want to

I think this is how love goes

Check yes or no"

I remember crying and crying before we left on our spring break trip, my freshman year, because I didn't want to be away from Brian. I'm sure my parents were completely annoyed over the way I was acting about it. But my Poppa Jim came to my rescue and bought me a $10 calling card (remember those?!) so I could talk to him. Poppa has always taken good care of me! 

Like Mother, Like Daughter?! There's no denying she's mine! =0)