(Ten) Years Gone By.

This day: the last day of the last year of this decade.

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Me: wondering what needs to be said about it.

I’ve been thumbing through memories. Here are some important ones.

On this day, ten years ago I wore a jean jumper from Maurices to my first stake dance in Kuna, Idaho. I danced with Joey George (Jared was present, too). And just before midnight, we counted down the seconds, then welcomed in the new millennia.

Ten years ago.

My parents had lost their minds and moved us far and away to the countryside. I’ve often wondered if they had decided to move elsewhere, if they had given in to my begging, where would I find myself now?

Quite possibly not here. I’ve thought it through. I’ve thought it. And I believe we’re very much led. In retrospect, it becomes almost blatant.

There is a certain Hand in all things.

There was a Hand in the choice I made five summers ago when I decided on a new home for myself (though, then, it felt more whimsical than anything).

One choice, and I moved without knowing anyone at all.

I moved here.

A few months later, Jared arrived.

A few months after, we loved each other.

One decision (or a few). And it affected eternity.

Two years ago, we sat across from each other on the bed in the basement of CKeller’s. It was Christmas morning. Earlier, we exchanged presents. And then, when we were alone, we exchanged hopes for the new year. The biggest, most heartfelt hope on the list: a child of our own.

Within one month, there was a beating heart.

A few months after, a baby. A little darling. All from a single choice.

Throughout the days and months since then, we’ve stretched ourselves. We’ve learned and grown. We’ve decided so many, many things. We felt deeper, felt more.

This decade has been good to us. We find ourselves happy, peaceful, at home.

At the end of each day, I like to tell myself that what I have here is a glistening piece of heaven on earth. Truly.

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Tonight, we’ll most likely toast to each other some sparkling sparklie in our flannel Christmas pajamas we received last week. We’ve picked up Costco goodie goods and after Morgan’s soundly sleeping, we’ll be watching Jack Bauer kick some serious ‘bad-man’ arse (you know what I’m saying?) on our little laptop because we’re minus a (working) television at this point. Sound charming? I think so. And I wouldn't trade it.

Happy New Year, my dears! I’ll be seeing you!

Hollie Rae

For Tomorrow: December 17th, 2005

I am writing this post today because, tomorrow, I am sure my heart will be too fluttery and I will be too distracted with romance of all sorts to blog about it (I am a lucky girl).

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Tomorrow, we celebrate each other, certain covenants, and the day we became Mr. and Mrs. Keller.

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The morning of our wedding day, I sat on my parents' bed while my mom clasped a white swarovski crystal bracelet on my right wrist and my dad buckled my dress shoes. They asked if I was nervous.

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I was full of peace.

Bliss. Joy.

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Four years later, my feelings are changed. They are more so, and much deeper.

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They are real. All things stripped, there is tenderness and trust and love. As simplistic and as patterned as our lives may be, there is holiness in it. We find it in family, in parenthood.

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We find it in the thing which brought us to where we are now - marriage.

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And how we've learned and grown and been blessed beyond measure or compare.

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Last week, I sat on the floor with Megan and told her how I believe with a full heart, that for me, when I put my entire self into the hands of Heavenly Father, I found myself exactly where I needed to be. And in the simplicity of doing so, I felt whole and pure. All else fell into place.

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All else was orchestrated. And continues to be.

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I'm so thankful for that.

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To my darling JLK: I love you. Happy day to us on the morrow! I am the luckiest girl and you are the best for me! I'm so glad we have forever and ever together.

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{His and Her Facts}

In four years, we've owned three houses, had three cars, one lawn mower, one very naughty dog, two motorcycles, shot two deer, painted dozens of walls, had two sets of couches, ate lots of chocolate cake, had one flat tire, started a business, made one loveable baby together, and kissed 1,450,998 times.

muppies.

Camping.May.2008

{p.s. my.hair.is.awesome}

last night, in my last effort to get mr. keller to tuck me into bed, he told me he needed to run out and put bella in her kennel before we could shut the lights out for the evening.

bella has dug five different holes IN OUR GRASS in the last week, one big enough she can lay her entire dog self in. we believe this irratical behavior means we will here shortly have to find her a good looking stud of a boyfriend. Translation: she's going into heat.

the clock was pushing twelve a.m., and i complained and told jared she would be fine for the night. i wanted to go to bed. my eyes were so sleepy.

he insisted and told me he didn't want some strange dog jumping the fence for some midnight love. he said he didn't want mutts for puppies.

then he said he didn't want muppies.

mutts + puppies = muppies.

of course! muppies. ingeneous. hilarious. in our late night hysteria, we fell simply fell apart.

delirium + stupid humor = the hysterics.

and boy, did we feel it.

as we collapsed into bed, i fell asleep feeling thankful i had someone to laugh with, someone who shares the same sort of ridiculous sense of humor - especially at twelve in the a.m.