Celebrating Us!

I can hardly believe that Holly and I are fast approaching our 10th wedding anniversary. It seems just like yesterday that we got married. Yet, at the same time, it feels like we've always been a part of each others lives. The best thing that ever happened in my life, was meeting Holly. She has been a constant source of kindness and goodness not only in the course of my life, but in the course of many other's lives. Holly has helped me to be less selfish, and generally more concerned about others needs. Every-time I'm around Holly's Mom, I think, "This is Holly is 40 more years, and what a perfect thing to look forward to!" I love Carolyn and Rolland for raising such a fine daughter. With Rolland's unexpected death, the role of Mother and Father both shifted to Carolyn. You have four amazing children Mom! It's a privilege to be part of your family.

As in any marriage, Holly and I have had our many joys and triumphs, as well as a challenge here and there. Through it all, our love and commitment to each other grows stronger and stronger, as the weeks, days, months and years continue to cruise by. I'm very much looking forward to growing old with you! Walkers with tennis balls, swearing and all.

I wanted to share some highlights and details over the past 10 years we've had together...

1999:
A perfect November wedding. We were sealed for time and all eternity in the LDS Salt Lake City temple. We had a formal dinner celebration with our family and close friends at the Memorial House, up Memory Grove behind the Utah State Capital building. The weather was sunny, extremely cold, and the decor was white light filled pine trees with gorgeous calla lilies and gerber daisies in reds, oranges and yellows. It was a prefect way to celebrate the start of our lives together. We flew to Washington, DC and Williamsburg, VA for our honeymoon. It was my first trip east of Denver at the time.

2000:
At the time I was working in the banking and financial services industry. The big scare at the time was the expected "total and complete meltdown of the worlds computer systems" with the "Y2K" glitch. Talk about overhype! Subsequently, I was not able to take time off for Christmas that year. Holly flew down to SLC to spend time with her and my family. I flew in late in the afternoon on the 24th, to then turn around and fly back to Seattle on the 25th. It was our first trip apart. We decided then and there that being with family is important, but being with each other is far more important. It's been the foundation for all our planning ever since. What makes best sense for the both of us is the rule in everything.

2001:
Holly and I made plans to go to NYC and stay in the World Trade Center Marriott from 9/6-9/13 that year for vacation. We had miles to cash out for the airfare and miles to offset hotel expenses. About four weeks before our scheduled trip, we both felt very strongly that we wanted to visit Chicago instead of NYC. So, at the last minute we changed our plans. Looking back on that now, had we been in NYC for that particular vacation, one or both of us might not be alive. Is still sort of freaks me out when I see the trip details we had for NYC that year which would have put us in the middle of all the chaos. The WTC Marriott was badly damaged in the 9/11 attacks. I feel like our lives were preserved for a larger cause, much bigger than what we probably can comprehend at this time in our lives. During the chaos of the attack on the country, we had our misfortunes in Chicago trying to ultimately get back to Seattle. It was an interesting time for us, as well as many others that year.

2002:
I finished my undergrad degree. The first few years of our marriage we hardly saw each other. I was working full time, and going to school full time at nights. The light was finally at the end of the tunnel and I graduated. That year also brought many firsts for us. Our first trip overseas to London and the U.K. to celebrate graduation from college. The purchase of our first home, as well as the both of us owning for the first time in our lives a brand new car right off the lot. Fun to look back on those memories.

2003:
Holly and I both continued working hard in our career paths. My job in corporate at Washington Mutual continued to get stressful. I was working so many hours, and doing traveling back and forth to Los Angeles. The bank continued buying out other banks and consolidating operations. Week to week you never knew if your department was going to be all laid off. Holly and I were able to continue enjoying time at home, and time away. We got to explore San Francisco in detail that year. I had never been before. She joined me on a bank conference. 2003 was also the year we decided that we were ready to be parents. Something we thought would be easy, but later on found out would be challenging for us.

2004:
I got laid off from Washington Mutual after many years of hard work. At the time, I felt like it was the end of the world. I felt many mixed signals as a few weeks before I got a nice merit recognition for being a top performer etc, than got a pink slip. I felt devastated. I had never been laid off before. Holly helped me realize that it wasn't the end of the world and I'd quickly land on my feet and be better off. Shortly after my layoff, I got a job offer at a local bank, and landed on my feet better than I did at WaMu. Holly helped me see the bigger picture.

2005:
I have many fun memories this year with Holly. We spent an extended period of time traveling all over Italy. We both were asked to spearhead some major church undertakings that year. We both grew a lot from these assignments and opportunities and I feel like our faith, and spiritual commitments to each other, as well as God's other children we interact with grew and continue to grow.

2006:
Holly and I discussed this year the need for me to transition from banking and financial services into something more stable. This is when I left the industry and moved over to Health Care marketing, media relations and community relations. My Mom also died this year, and Holly and I had some very in depth discussions about families, our parents, our religious faith and the knowledge that we both both feel, we'll get to see our deceased relatives again. Holly was and continues to be an amazing source of comfort to me during the loss of my mother, and the subsequent experiences I have when I find myself really missing her presence. Holly's Mom also amazingly stepped in during my sorrow with my own mother, and our friendship grew in leaps and bounds during this trial in my life. The Finlayon's are an amazing family, hands down! Carolyn, Holly, my sister Rebecca and I, were able to take a temple trip down to Manti, just a few days after my Mother passed away and enjoy the serenity of being in the temple as family.

2007:
Holly and I continued to serve in various assignments at church, as well as continuing to enhance our careers. We have our busy times and our down times at work, but we did treat ourselves to just under three weeks in Africa this year. This was our first "nature" vacation together and we're both dying to get back. The safaris, the locals, the surroundings. Africa was a mesmerizing place for both of us. We'll never forget this experience we had together.

2008:
Holly and I made our decision to adopt as a means of expanding our family and the desire to both want to parent. After exhausting other resources, we felt this was the right plan for us. We started our very exhaustive process of applying for an international adoption from China. We have two lovely nieces from China. After considering many options, we decided to move forward with China as well. We look forward to sharing our life with a child. She'll join two amazing families who have a history of fun, love and many experiences. Holly and I, also enjoyed two weeks in France with good friends of ours. Paris and the French countryside is amazing. And spending time in this amazing place with Holly was a major highlight for me that year.

2009:
10 years flies by. The clock "officially" started ticking for out adoption in March of this year. We continue to look for our next home. The home we want to raise our family in, in the right neighborhood, the right school district, and all those grown up things we get to consider. We're looking forward to being back in Williamsburg, VA to celebrate out 10th wedding anniversary.

So Holly, thanks for sharing your life with me. We've had, and will continue to have amazing times together. I love you more, and more as the months and years go by. We continue to laugh and cry together, as well as cook, clean and love our home and life we are making together. I love you with all my heart!

Yours Forever,
Dan