Bronze or Pottery

Did you know that the traditional anniversary gift for the 8th year is bronze or pottery? Interesting huh? Who ever started those traditions anyway? Does anyone still buy these traditional gifts?

Anywho, 8 years ago today Chad and I celebrated our wedding day! It always feels a little weird around our anniversary time to focus on the number of years we have been married. Yes, it has been 8 years but when you add in the time of dating it has been almost 14 years. Almost half our lives have been spent together!

I met Chad my first day on campus in Eau Claire. I was all moved in and my parents had left. I remember that being a lonely day and I was missing my friends and family! Luckily my roommate was one of the sweetest people I had ever met! She grew up in a town not too far from EC called Bloomer and a lot of her friends were in the area and getting together that night. She invited me to go along to a movie with her high school friends! I am sure glad that I tagged along!

Apparently, this friend Chad had to work that night but maybe we could swing by his place afterwards. So, the movie was over and everyone made me feel so welcomed into their "group". We went to another friend, Jen's house after the movie while they waited for Chad to call after work. The phone rang and Jen answered. Now I am only hearing her end of the conversation:

Jen: Yep, there are a bunch of people here.

Jen: Jodi is here and Jenny, Adam, Josh, Tina....

Jen: She's Jodi's new roommate.

Jen: I don't know if she is cute, I guess so????

Oh was I sooooo embarrassed!!!! But everyone seemed to get a good laugh out of it and then we all left and went to Chad's apartment. I couldn't believe what a nice group of people I had found myself in that night. Made me feel right at home. The first time I met Chad I thought he was good looking and funny. I'll admit I had a little crush on him from that first minute I met him! He says he felt the same but not so sure about that.

Turned out that Chad and Jodi were really good friends in high school along with Chad's friend Josh. So, that first month of college I saw a lot of Chad and Josh! And because my roommate was such a good little studier and I, well I wasn't, I would go on little excursions with them exploring the City of Eau Claire. They had a lot to show me and would usually end with a trip to Perkins. I learned a lot about Chad in those first few weeks and found out that he had a girlfriend. But was I going to let that stop me??

It was about a month later that I started my job in the dorm at the front desk. Since I was a newbie, I had the wonderful overnight shift to work. Since Chad was such a nice guy he would come and sit with me to keep me company and awake! Now if that wasn't a sign that he liked me I don't know what was. So, one night I called him out on it - and yes I made the first move. (ok, so I just kissed him. Girls are allowed to do that aren't they?) He broke up with his "girlfriend" the next day which happened to be a day that she sent him flowers! Guess who got those flowers? Good thing I have a sense of humor. And just to set the record straight he had only gone out with her a couple of times. At least that was the story according to him! :)

September 29th was our first date. Why do we remember things like that? Anyway, we went bowling and then rented a movie and went back to his place. Pretty fast I know but pretty sure all we did was kiss! :) And really as they say, the rest is history.

He proposed on April Fools Day 1999. He thought it was probably about time to do that since my mom and I had started doing some wedding planning already! :) And then walked the aisle on August 5th, 2000!

It is hard to even imagine back to that day! What a blur! Every once and a while Anna and I will have this conversation:

Anna (looking at a picture of our wedding day): Mommy, where was I when you got married?

Me: You weren't born yet. You weren't even a glimmer in our eye!

Silence. Silence. Silence.

Anna: Mommy, but where was I when you got married? Was I in your tummy? Or at Grandma and Grandpa's?


In reality it is hard to remember what life was like before Anna. No, she wasn't at our wedding and no, our lives together didn't start with her in it. It is interesting how everything starts to blend together as time moves on!

Chad - These last 8 years have not been without their ups and downs but I would not have had it any other way! The love that we shared on that first date 14 years ago has only grown stronger to this day. And with each learning moment we take that opportunity to make it better and better!

I love you honey! Happy 8th/14th Anniversary!

Tina