Happy CRAZY Anniversary!

Today marks 11 years of wedded bliss! We are now working on our 12th year together as husband and wife. We were recounting the "crazy" things that have happened in the past 11 years and thought we would share them with you.

Year 1 1996-1997: Moved into our first apartment (move 1) and had our first car break in. Two months later moved to Bend, Oregon for 4 months (move 2) then moved back to Keizer, Oregon with Brett’s parents for 2 months (move 3). Moved to Cascade View Apts. (move 4). Brett and Kate both worked 2 jobs.

Year 2 1997-1998: Lived at Cascade View Apts. and had our car broken into 3-4 times and gas bbq stolen.

Year 3 1998-1999: Moved into Brett’s Parents house in west Salem for 6 months (move 5). Brett went back to college to finish his degree; Kate worked at the YMCA childcare. Bought our house on Neef Ave (move 6). Brett started first Youth Ministry position at Liberty Christian Church.

Year 4 1999-2000: Brett finished his Bachelor's degree at Western Baptist College (now Corban College). Discovered we had a miscarriage of our first pregnancy on our fourth wedding anniversary.

Year 5 2000-2001: Brett worked at the Oregon State Capital as a "session Help Desk technician" then became the Youth Minister at Willamette Community Church. Kate stopped working and we had our first child on March 2 2001.

Year 6 2001-2002: Moved from Salem to Albany (move 7) and sold our house in Salem. Lived in a two bedroom on 2nd Ave across from the 7-eleven, AKA "The Hood". Moved again to 18th Ave, a little less of a hood (move 8). Took a paycut at the church after 9-11 that was later restored. Had our car broken into and had the church laptop, digital camera, and some other stuff stolen while parked at a restaurant.

Year 7 2002-2003: Still lived at 18th Ave. Found out we were pregnant with our second child, Ethan. Still at Willamette Community Church. . Purchased a new 2002 Dodge Caravan then 2 months later it was hit by a trick delivering trusses to the church.

Year 8 2003-2004: Year of Hell. Brett had an emergency Appendectomy cancelling his mission trip to Moldova. Kate's purse was stolen from inside the church and we had more than $2,000 in fraudulent charges to report plus the churches digital camera was stolen again. Brett's Mazda RX-7 was in a hit and run the week after. Then Ethan was born two weeks later. Then 2 weeks later the IRS let us know that we owed them more than $700 from 2 years prior. Moved to 20^th Ave, one of the more positive notes for the year (move 9). Went through a Senior Pastor change at Willamette Community Church.

Year 9 2004-2005: Went to Las Vegas for our anniversary. New Senior Pastor arrives at Willamette Community Church. Kate started school to earn a Phlebotomy certificate. Kate’s Granddad passed away, Brett performs his first memorial service.

Year 10 2005-2006: Kate finished school and started working at Corvallis Family Medicine 2 days a week. A stellar year compared to the past years.

Year 11 2006-2007: Brett started new job search. Moved to Baxter, Minnesota in late August (move 10). Brett became the Children's Pastor at The Journey North Community Church. Had a deer run into us while driving, had another car accident with a semi during the years worst snowstorm. Isabella was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder and has difficulty adjusting to new environments. Adjustment to living in Minnesota and new church.

Year 12 2007-2008: I’m sure the craziness will continue…