The days in those 16 years have been filled with ups and downs, laughter and tears, countless memories, 3 children, many homes, and a few jobs. This last year has brought some changes in our home, and I have to admit I fell in love with my amazing husband all over again. So, I went and married him again, this time.....
for ETERNITY!Today it's been 15 years since Derrick and I were married! How could that be? It seems like just yesterday, and yet I feel like we've been together forever.
I know you are all dying to know some new things about us, so I'm going to share!
-I think it's one of Derrick's goals in life, to make me live outside my comfort zone and learn to enjoy it. Whether it's taking a four-wheeling trail that I'd really rather not drive or learning to enjoy being on the boat and even in the water, I've come along way! And most of the time, I do enjoy myself!
-Derrick is a hard worker and he gives everything he does 100%! No matter if it's teaching the kids at school or mechanic work at the garage or just things around the house, he's always busy! A teacher was the last thing I would have imagined Derrick growing up to be when I married him. In fact, I thought he was kidding when he told me that's what he'd decided on, and I laughed. Not only did he go on to finish his degree in Education, he got his masters too....and I must admit, is a pretty great teacher!
-Derrick makes me laugh....at him, at myself or just in general!
-Derrick is very supportive of me and the kids. He supports me in things that may not be important to him, but he knows they are to me, and that means a lot to me!
-Derrick is my traveling partner. He worked for the airlines to put himself through school. As a result, we've had the chance to travel to places we otherwise wouldn't have been able too. There's no one else I'd rather have those memories with!
-When Derrick decided to do something, he does it and always does it well. He's built our family two beautiful homes. I was terrified when he decided he wanted to sell our home in Santaquin, build a new home and be the general contractor on that home. That was a learning experience for both of us (I even learned to cut brick and install hardwood floors), but one of the most important lessons I learned was to trust in my husband and his abilities!
-Derrick and I are a team, and we work well together (most of the time).
-Derrick has skills! All kinds of them- house building, car fixing, you name it, my man can do it!
-Derrick is forgiving! 
-Derrick is spontaneous, and I've learned to adjust to his spontaneity and enjoy it!
- I can't say that these 15 years have been perfect and wonderful in every way, we've definitely had our ups and downs. But through each of those, we've grown together and I'm thankful for all of them! Happy Anniversary Babe!
Tonight was the last game of the Little League season for my boys, all my boys! Brock and Kaleb both played coach pitch this year and Derrick was their coach. Every other year the boys get to play on the same teams together, and I love it when that happens. I also love that Derrick is willing to coach their team, what a great memory for the boys.... baseball with your dad!
Kaleb ~ 7 years
Brock ~ 9 years 
Brewers ~ 2009
So, obviously I've been in a bit of a blogging funk..... I haven't had anything spectacular, or even interesting for that matter, to post, and comments have been few and far between, I'm sorry, I really do love you all, truly I do and I will do better, I promise! I was talking to a friend yesterday who said she loved it when I did Flashback Fridays. You know what? I did to! I loved to sort through old pictures, laugh at fun memories of long ago and then share them with you, so why has it been so long since we had a Flashback Friday? Well, wait no more...... This flashback is to Christmas of 1994. Derrick and I had been dating about 6 months, and I was a freshman at good old UVSC, we were married about 8 months later, and yep, we look pretty young! Fun times and good memories, enjoy!
♥Monica & Derrick♥
Sept. 9th, 1995
Some of you may remember this my little fender bender I had a few months ago. Well, it didn't look so little when we got the bid back and it was almost $2800. This is when I remember how thankful I should be that I have a "handy hubby". I can't think of anything that Derrick has tried that he can't figure out how to do. He may have to practice a bit, but if he sets his mind to it, he does it. Number one example, our houses.....when he announced we were going to sell our house and build, I immediately told him no way, like he knew how to build a house. Guess what he not
only did it, but he did an excellent job, twice! When he told me he had decided to major in education, I honestly thought he was joking and laughed at him, well, guess what he's an excellent teacher. So you get the picture, I need to be more supportive and not doubt him, because when he sets his mind to it, he does it and always does it well! Well, he proved once again how talented he is. He did the body work and paint on our Tahoe and it looks pretty dang good.
He got a completely new body panel and then cut the piece he needed and welded it in.
He was hoping to get it done over his Christmas break, but the paint booth at his cousins garage was always full, so I got to drive it with no bumper and this lovely red primer job for awhile. Yea, I felt pretty cool~ I think that may have been my punishment?
And finally the finished product! Once again, he proved to me that he's the man! Doesn't it look great?
I also need to shout out a big thanks to James and Richie for pitching in and helping out, you guys are the best!
