I'm sure you expected a card. After decades of scrapbooking, I am happy to give our marriage an honour which takes up less space. Besides, the best things in life, cannot be bought. While this year marks 10 years of marriage, next year will mark 20 years of togetherness.
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| An awkward teenage photo |
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| High school sweethearts |
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| Prom, 2001 |
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| Kara's graduation from Brock University, 2005 |
2007 - After nine years of dating, including a year and a half engagement, we buy our first home in Smithville, ON and are married on August 4, 2007 by Pastor Henry of Cornerstone Church at Kingsview Community Church. We travel to Colorado Springs for our honeymoon and go spelunking, hiking, horseback riding and ride a cog train to the summit of Pike's Peak. We stayed in a renovated caboose!
I teach grade 7/8 at Bellmoore and you finish working in HVAC and home renovations with a family friend and begin working as an auto mechanic apprentice for Shawn's Auto. Our Friday nights are spent running youth ministry at Cornerstone Church.
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| Photo credits Cole Garside |
2008 - Facebook history (yes, I actually needed to scroll back and look) indicates I am bored, watch Grey's Anatomy and reality-TV, including American Idol. I spend more time than needed cleaning. We work, argue about petty things, make-up, garden and take care of our cats, Quincy and Charlie. By the leading of Holy Spirit, we find ourselves serving and making friends at a new church, Tree of Life.
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| Quincy |
2009 - You study auto mechanics at Mohawk College, apprenticing under cars by day at Shawn's Auto and serving at Tree of Life by night. I do a lot of marking! We drive in the black, 1966 VW, "hood ride" beetle you got running! Facebook indicates on September 9, 2009 "For once, [my husband] talked more than me." We go on movie dates. In December, I get in a car accident after hitting black ice, but am unharmed outside of some whiplash.
2010 - We travel to British Columbia and Washington state. We welcome our first daughter, Rylyn, two days before Christmas. After a couple of years forging our independence as a married couple, we recognize the importance of our own families for support moving forward.
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| Rylyn, photo credit Jeremy James Photography |
2011 - We have a memorable family trip to Sauble Beach with both sides of the family! Surprise, we are having another baby...hi ho, hi ho it's back to work I go. You take paternal leave.
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| Grandpa Dan with Rylyn |
2012 - We welcome our second daughter, Addisyn, in March. Rylyn becomes ill: failure to thrive. My days are filled with doctor's appointments with a newborn and a sick toddler. I pray myself to sleep many nights. Mid-year Rylyn is diagnosed with Celiac Disease and we learn how to prepare her food gluten free. A cloud has been lifted. Praise God.
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| Addisyn |
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| Addisyn's other surprise, home birth! |
2013 - You give your children an amazing gift. You become a stay-at-home-dad for two years and are able to devote more time to pursuing your dream of pastoring with a 1 year-old in one hand and a 2 year-old in the other. After helping Tree of Life through a pastoral transition, we feel released to move and we keep coming back to Kingsview Community Church. I continue my dream of sowing into the lives of children, including my own, and teach. I try my hand at Grade 6. We visit Sesame Place in Pennsylvania.
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| With Grandmas at the Santa Claus Parade |
2014 - We move into our current home. A home with your heritage and soon to be mine. We are blessed with the purchase of your maternal grandparents' home, which has been out of the family for about a decade. Rylyn starts school. More space? Why not another baby?
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| Saying good bye to Swayze Court |
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| Our current home, picture 2017 |
2015 - We welcome our THIRD daughter, Josette in July. You are hired as youth pastor at Kingsview Community Church. After years of dreaming, apprenticing, volunteering and people doubting, you held to the plan you believe God has for you.
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| Josette |
2016 - I return to teaching part-time, something I have been longing to try out since having children. Addy starts school. Grandparents help us with Josette two mornings a week.
2017 - Happy 10th Anniversary! There is so much more I could write about the past ten years. We have added brothers and sisters through marriage, nieces and nephews and said a few goodbyes too. As for a fourth for our own family? Three strikes you're out! Our faith, family, friends (new and old!), youth ministry, teaching at Bellmoore and Grey's Anatomy have all been consistent in our decade-long journey. Having each other, our children, both our parents, and our siblings, with their families, present and healthy, are blessings we count.
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| Laura and Jamie's wedding, photo credit Cesare Berti |
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| A whole lot of "Dalgleish" cousins |
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11
God says this to the Isrealites during a time of captivity. This is the promise He provides in advance of 70 years of captivity in Babylon. It was also a scripture at our wedding. Chris, if I am a captive in this life, I am glad it is with you. It is my prayer we can trust in the light of Christ when all seems dark and remember our future and hope is in Him. I love you. Happy 10th Anniversary. I pray for many more years with you.
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| Our most recent selfie |
