Today there was the usual sound of Matt’s keys turning the lock to the front door. However, it wasn’t time for him to be home yet. It was only lunch time. I was curious. When he walked through the door, however, I knew instantly why he was home at this hour. In his hands he clutched a bag from Baja Fresh. He walked up to me, gave me a hug and a kiss, then looked me in the eyes and said, “I really, really, really like you!”

I melted!

You see, it was exactly nine years ago today that he said those same words to me as an introduction to a long and very flattering speech. As you might have guessed, we were at Baja Fresh. It was a Friday, and I thought we were going to discuss our upcoming trip to Peru. However, my sneaky co-leader was really taking me out to tell me how he felt about me. We affectionately refer to that night as “Baja Friday.” It was the beginning of the rest of our lives together.

So, since I’m the sappy, sentimental type, we celebrate this day every year. Usually we get to have dinner at Baja Fresh. (Matt had to leave for a retreat this afternoon, so he snuck in this fun tradition at lunchtime instead!) We used to sit at the same exact table until they had to go and remodel the place. Sad. Now “our table” is somewhere in the middle of the back kitchen area. (I wonder if they’d let us eat back there????) Most years I also pull out my old journal, and we laugh as I read the account of that night. I have most of that cute speech recorded for all time!

Though I do get teased for being so excited about little anniversaries like this, I won’t ever change. In fact, there’s an aspect of it that is rather biblical. There are several passages in Scripture where the writers go down their own “Memory Lane.” I think of Deuteronomy 8 and Psalm 78. In both accounts God is praised for His mercy and blessing, even when some of the memories were hard ones. The beginning of Psalm 78 gives a purpose for looking back. . .

v. 4 “We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that he has done.”

v. 6-7 “That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God.”

When Matt and I contemplate the nine years since the first “Baja Friday,” we can see so plainly the “works of God” in our lives. Just like the Israelites, we have had our ups and our downs. But it has taught us to put our “confidence in God” and His strength. A lot of couples don’t last nine years . . . dating or married! Matt and I can’t take credit for our nine years at all. God must get the glory.

Someday our little Jack and Katie will be old enough to really celebrate “Baja Friday” with us. Though it seems like a good excuse for a Date Night, it also seems like the perfect opportunity to “tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord.” I can’t wait to tell them how I fell in love with their Daddy and tell them how God has been good to us through these many years together.

Anyways, I’ve posted a few pictures from that first month of “us.” You’ll notice that I pulled these from a scrapbook. And, like me, you’ll wonder why I felt the need to chop the photos into strange shapes. Why oh why oh why?

MEMORY LANE . . .

Matt and I first got to know each other on a mission trip to Peru in June of 1999. Sparks flew. Then we parted ways for the rest of the summer. I was secretly DYING to get back to school so that I could see him again. We were both on WOW Staff at The Master’s College so we had a few weeks of fun before classes started.

You might recognize the girl next to Matt in the picture below. That’s Danielle, Brooklynn’s mom. She was Matt’s “Wow-ee.” She deserves a bit of credit in the match-making department.

The Luau at the end of WOW week!

A group of us went down to Santa Monica together.

I believe Monica Miller gets the credit for taking this picture. We weren’t “an item” at this point, but I love it!!

A few weeks before “Baja Friday” Matt suggested we try to get a group of friends together to go to Disneyland. When none of my friends could come, he told his friends that they were no longer invited. Sneaky. So we went to Disneyland just the two of us.

The day after “Baja Friday” I was supposed to do some homework and go on an extra credit field trip. But I was already in “La La Land.” So instead Matt and I joined his friend Johnny Anderson at a UCLA game.

There’s some debate about which event is techincally the first date. This might have been it. Dinner at Macaroni Grill. It makes me laugh to think of the hours I agonized over what to wear. And that’s what I came up with????

We drove up to Pittsburg so Matt could meet my family. We went to Great America for Christian Music Night with my brothers and Andy Hampton. I knew things were going well when Matt joined them in their ridiculous antics around the park.

On our way back to The Master’s College, we took a detour into San Fransicso. Crazy, but fun! I’ve come to love that about my Matt Millett!

Pier 31′s famous Hat Store

FAST FORWARD NINE . . . well . . . EIGHT YEARS!!

The picture we took today didn’t turn out very well. So here’s a picture of last year’s “Baja Friday.”

By the way, Matt has posted several encouraging thoughts about his role in his relationships . . . with me and our kids. Check them out on his blog . . . especially if you’re a husband or a father.