That may not surprise some of you, including our boy's teachers...
I remember running from the car and our wedding coordinator was covering me up yelling " the Eagle has landed', as if I was the president or something. As I was running to the back of the Grand Tradition of coarse my very soon to be husband was already taking his pictures. I knew at that moment that this marriage was going to be fun. I mean come on, putting two imperfect people together is a recipe for disaster! One person, who was always late and one person, who was always at least15 minutes early fore EVERYTHING! I am sure Thommy was probably thinking what am I getting myself into the women can't even be on time to her own wedding...
( this is probably my favorite picture of him. Waiting for me to come around the pond to the song Feather from Forest Gump soundtrack by the time I got to him his eyes were crystal blue from the tears.)
Not much as changed over the past 15 years. He is still ready first. And if I am being honest, evey morning I would be lost without his help getting me out the door. Even though I say not much has changed over the past 15 years looking back I would be lying if I say that because the truth is so much has changed.
So why the picture of the table...for our first anniversary Thom built me this beautiful patio table.
He and his Dad worked on this together it was like watching Bob Villa and Norm Abrams in the good old days...yes I know who those people are. Some of my best naps have been taken when Thom watches "his shows." I found this picture the other day and it has had me thinking about how much our marriage has been like this table. This table has hosted many of guests over for meals, the kids have painted on this table, played play-do on this table (yes I am that Mom that doesn't allow play-do in the house), this table has been jumped on, jumped off, chewed on by the worlds raddest dog, and used as a launching pad for some serious adventures of Buzz Lightyear and Woody. This table even took part in our annual anniversary tradition that I will explain in a bit. This table has been weathered. It has felt the heat of the sun, the moisture of the rain, and even the coolness from the occasional snow. And today, 14 years after our first anniversary this table sits in our backyard still strong, still useable, still ready to host a thousand more meals and adventures. 
Yes, the table may not look as good as it did 14 years ago. Seriously though, the way in which this table was built, the time, and the attention that was paid to every joint put together has made it solid. This table was built to withstand any storm, any climate change, and any boy using it as a launching/landing pad. This table was built by my husband, the same man who has put that much time and consideration into our marriage so 15 years later we can say that we are still standing strong.
Don't get me wrong, we have had our fair share of storms, of times we both were mean to each other, selfish sinners in need of our Savior. A few years ago we were at a marriage retreat where we heard Bob Lepine say that "your marriage must reflect the gospel message everyday." Like I said before, putting two sinful, selfish people together is a recipe for disaster! However, the grace that God gave to us while we were yet still in our sin by dying on the cross paying our debt so we could be with Him forever is the exact same grace that we are to show one another daily.
It is this grace that we have strived to build our marriage on. Please don't think we are perfect, we fail miserably at least every other day! I think the key has been that we haven't given up. We admit when we are being jerk faces. We work through the hard stuff and we extend grace and forgiveness when needed because we have been extended that same grace and that same forgiveness. We surround ourselves with friends and family that join in our struggles and cheer us on. We look to others who have been married a heck of a lot longer than we have and glean from them what works and what doesn't work. And we pray, like a lot! And through all of the good and the bad God is still faithful even when we are not. He is the reason we are standing here today. He is the master carpenter.
For the sake of full transparency... I was not only late for our wedding, I also was Chatty Cathy and failed to eat much at the reception. By the time the festivities were over, I was so hungry! Thom and I ordered room service at the hotel. We ordered the fanciest cheeseburgers you'd ever seen, silver plater and all. Since that day every year we have celebrated by getting a cheeseburger. One of the meals that this very table hosted was our cheeseburger anniversary meal. We had just hosted our son's 1st Birthday party, I was starting a new job on the 19th, and we just bought a new house. With all the crazy going on we decided to stay home and enjoy a meal sitting around this table. For the past 15 years we have gotten a cheeseburger for our anniversary. Hey I might have been late for our wedding but at least I am a cheep date...
2001 - Hilton Gardens South Carlsbad, Ca.
2002 - Chilis Bar & Grill, Encinitas, Ca. (Just Connor home out of NICU)
2003 - @ home eating on said table with our then one year old, San Marcos, Ca.
2004 - Richie's Diner, Temecula, Ca. ( About to pop out Corban)
2005 Tomorrow Land , Disneyland, Anaheim, Ca.
2006 - Red Robin, Palm Springs, Ca.
2007 - In-N-Out, Temecula, Ca. After youth camp.
2008 - Islands, Temecula, Ca.
2009 - Five Guys, Temecula, Ca. (About to pop out Cooper)
2010 - Red Robin, Temecula, Ca.
2011 - PB Ale House, PB, Ca.
2012 - Brew Legion, Murrieta, Ca.
2013 - Smash Burger, Point Loma, Ca.
2014 - Guy Fieri's Kitchen & Bar, Las Vegas, Nv.
2015 - Soda & Swine, Northpark Sa Diego, Ca.
2016 - I'll let you know later...
Who would have thought a punk kid like me could be so fortunate to find a man like Thom Lyon. Thank you Thommy for being patient with me. Thank you for forgiving me, for loving me, for being my biggest fan. I pray for as long as the good Lord has me on this earth that each day is spent with you. Thank you for the family that we have made over the years. And thank you for showing our boys how to love your wife as Christ has loved the church. Thank you for putting the same care into our marriage as you put into building that table. Here is to many more years of loving, arguing, teasing, tickling, and showing more grace and forgiveness to one another! Here are to many more years of bringing our family, our kids families, our summer kids and their families, and our tribe to our table. I love you to the moon and back Thomas William Lyon!
