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Our 20th Anniversary Trip – And What We Came Home To

August 15, 2014 by Laura 43 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Floating down a river on a raft for hours, staying overnight in a family owned bed-and-breakfast type lodge, sitting on the patio relaxing for hours – this is what Matt planned for us on our anniversary.

I loved our getaway so much – I am still flying high from it. We only had to drive a little over two hours to our destination, which was perfect since both of us are a little “traveled out” after this very busy summer. I’m amazed at what Matt found for us to do, right here in Nebraska. It truly was perfect.

anniversary trip 141

The lady who owned the lodge where we stayed set up an anniversary breakfast table for us. It was beautiful!

anniversary trip 142

What were our boys doing the whole time we were gone? Well, we left them with long school work lists and chore lists. We bought food we don’t normally buy – as a special treat and to keep things easy and fun for them (making them promise to eat at least one fruit or veggie with every meal). :)  The college grad living with us made sure all was well with the boys overnight.

But beyond that? Well, we had no idea what these boys were really up to. We trusted that they were being responsible and wise with their time. And just what did they do with their free time?

Amazing. I’m telling you – this is amazing. We thought our welcome home “gift” looked like this:

anniversary trip 143

Truly, homemade cookies, a homemade card on a piece of notebook paper, wild flowers floating in a cup of water – it was much more than we expected. We were simply hoping the dishes would be done. (They were.)

What we didn’t know was that there was more waiting for us than the surprise cookies and card. We sat down to an incredible music video, made entirely by our boys.

Before you watch it, you have to know what all went in to this. Our boys created the music and beats to this rap/song on FL Studio, our music creation software. Our boys wrote the lyrics (which is evident in the fact that you may not “get” some of the inside family jokes). They planned all of this on their own. They spent hours filming, and even more hours editing. I have watched this over and over. I am amazed by it. Our boys used their gifts, they worked together – well, let’s just say this video does my heart real good.

If for no other reason, you should watch this video to see the JUNK our boys ate while we were gone. They certainly enjoyed themselves, and who can blame them?! :)

Thank you for your sweet comments this week as we celebrated our 20th anniversary. Thanks for letting me share a bit of our lives with you in this video. It is so much fun to see our boys growing and creating together! I’m thankful for the family God has blessed me with. I do not take this for granted.

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Filed Under: Family News Tagged With: anniversary, music video, teenage sons

Comments

  1. Sara @ GaijinMom says

    August 15, 2014 at 11:34 pm

    This is so perfect!! What a blessing to you all. I love it!

    Reply
  2. Kelley says

    August 16, 2014 at 1:54 am

    Wow! That is so good and they sound great! VERY talented boys!! :) Happy Anniversary, and Blessings to you all.

    Reply
  3. Margaret says

    August 16, 2014 at 3:06 am

    WOW! Your guys are great. I think you and Matt have done an excellent job of raising those boys. God Bless you one and all.

    Reply
  4. Jenny C says

    August 16, 2014 at 4:44 am

    What a special memory they made for you both.

    Reply
  5. Dawn says

    August 16, 2014 at 5:14 am

    Laura that looks like ALL of you had fun!! :) Can you email me where that is in Nebraska? We are in Iowa and I would love to do a mini-getaway with my hubby. It’s been too long. :/

    Reply
    • Laura says

      August 16, 2014 at 6:31 am

      YES! He took me to the tiny town of Niabrara. You have to go! Check out “Niabrara Adventures” – they are awesome and offer a wonderful service. They hooked us up with a raft, where we floated down the Niabrara River – the most relaxing thing we’ve done in years. Then, a few hours later, after you’re done rafting, they take care of the raft and drive you back to your car.

      We stayed in the town of Niabrara at Whitetail Rivers Lodge – also highly recommended. It’s rustic, simple, beautiful, sweet, and very reasonably priced. They were lovely people and provided us with a very nice breakfast.

      It was so relaxing and fun!!!!

      Reply
      • Helen says

        August 16, 2014 at 11:45 am

        We floated down the niobrara just 2 weeks ago ! I’m in broken bow! We love Valentine and the surrounding area!

        Reply
  6. Tiffani says

    August 16, 2014 at 5:18 am

    You guys are truly blessed! Happy Anniversary!

    Reply
  7. Jen says

    August 16, 2014 at 6:43 am

    Happy anniversary! Amazing video by the boys. Lots of love and talent!

    Reply
  8. Katie says

    August 16, 2014 at 7:02 am

    Wow! That was impressive. Happy anniversary! Thanks for all you do for us here on the blog too!

    Reply
  9. Season says

    August 16, 2014 at 7:38 am

    Wow your boys are awesome!! How thoughtful they are, I would of cried seeing that. Your getaway looked nice too. We have always talked about doing that for our anniversary but never have. This year will be our 18th maybe we should.

    Reply
  10. Shelley says

    August 16, 2014 at 8:20 am

    Happy Anniversary! What beautiful and talented boys you’ve raised.

    Reply
  11. Karen Y says

    August 16, 2014 at 8:27 am

    That is the sweetest, most encouraging video I’ve seen in a while. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

    Reply
  12. SC Susie says

    August 16, 2014 at 8:31 am

    Happy 20th Anniversary! What a sweet gesture from the boys – I would be honored and proud of them too. My husband and I were married in 1994 as well and are planning a trip next month for our anniversary. I love how your youngest still calls his Dad “DaDa”; my youngest does this as well and it reminded me of my sweet Gracie. Thanks for all your posts and blogging. It is such and encouragement to me and my family.

    Reply
  13. Tisha says

    August 16, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Happy 20th Anniversary to both of you! What wonderful boys you have & what a treasure that video is! They did such a great job! I was truly impressed! God bless you all!

    Great job, boys!

    Reply
  14. Karen says

    August 16, 2014 at 8:38 am

    God has truly blessed you and your family! May he continue to work through you. Happy anniversary and many many more!

    Reply
  15. Rachel E. says

    August 16, 2014 at 9:03 am

    What a treat! That was so very thoughtful of them.

    We celebrated our 19th anniversary half way through July.

    Happy Anniversary.

    Reply
  16. Birdie says

    August 16, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Wonderful Laura! Happy Belated Anniversary, 8-> The video your sons have done is wonderful!! The words that they expressed and the things they did show respect and love for your husband and you. It really comes through. They’ve stepped out of their “me first” and are thoughtful and kind to both of you.

    Reply
  17. Kim says

    August 16, 2014 at 9:38 am

    Happy Anniversary! That’s awesome!!!

    Reply
  18. Ellen says

    August 16, 2014 at 10:12 am

    AWESOME!!!

    Reply
  19. Tiffany says

    August 16, 2014 at 10:21 am

    Aww, what a gift! You’ve done well, Mama. Those are some awesome boys. I’ll look forward to the day when my kids are old enough to appreciate me. For now I’m just annoying and bossy. :) But it’s all out of love! Happy 20 years!

    Reply
  20. Mary Buzzell says

    August 16, 2014 at 10:23 am

    How awesome was this? Your family is A. Maze. Ing!!!!! Glad you got to do a getaway. Your boys rock the world. God bless and here’s to another 20 (or more) years.

    Reply
  21. Andrea Smith says

    August 16, 2014 at 10:25 am

    What a sweet tribute! You have such great kids! Next year is 10 for us! Hard to believe on our 20th our kids will be 16, 14, and 11.5! I sure pray that we’re raising them right like you guys are!

    Reply
  22. K says

    August 16, 2014 at 10:26 am

    This is the main reason i read your blog! Your entire family is so uplifting and gracious ! I have been reading your blog daily for a yr or so and this is my first comment. Thank you so much for sharing all of your positiveness(?) with us. I have gotten lots of other good content from you, but I particularly loved this post. Thanks again!

    Reply
  23. Jennifer says

    August 16, 2014 at 10:47 am

    Wow. I cried a little bit. Your boys are the coolest! By the way, I gave birth to my first baby girl in celebration of your anniversary :) (She has 2 older brothers). So glad to hear you had a romantic and relaxing trip, and came home to more sweet surprises!

    Reply
  24. Jessica says

    August 16, 2014 at 11:03 am

    You are a blessed woman, indeed!

    Reply
  25. Ashley T says

    August 16, 2014 at 11:20 am

    How precious! You can certainly tell that you have their hearts. What a joy to see the fruit of your labor for so many years. And wonderful they can express their appreciation in a way that you can cherish for years to come! What a wonderful way to be blessed by your husband. I feel the love! Thank you for sharing! Okay, I think I’m done with my sentence fragments :-)

    Reply
  26. Meg says

    August 16, 2014 at 11:21 am

    This is so wonderful! Thanks for sharing this with all of us… I really enjoy your blog, it’s such an encouragement to me as a new wife and mom. Happy Anniversary!

    Reply
  27. Karen says

    August 16, 2014 at 11:29 am

    This was terrific of your boys! What fine young men you’ve raised. Happy 20th anniversary to you and Matt! Your little getaway looks like it was fun and relaxing.

    Reply
  28. Mimi says

    August 16, 2014 at 11:57 am

    I don’t even know you guys, and this made me cry! Wow, what a testament to you as parents, to how well you raised your boys. “Her children rise up and call her blessed” indeed.

    Reply
  29. Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says

    August 16, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    So glad you had such a blessed time! I bet it was nice to have someone serve you the meals for a change. It’s bittersweet knowing that your kids are old enough to leave them for a little bit, isn’t it? We’re at that stage, too. Happy Anniversary again!

    Reply
  30. Kellie says

    August 16, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    Awww, that’s just amazing! I’d be watching it over and over too. : )

    Reply
  31. Shaela Haney says

    August 16, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    That made me tear up :*) What a great present! Loved it, thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  32. D'Ann Martin says

    August 16, 2014 at 1:51 pm

    That video is just out of this world awesome! You and your hubby are blessed beyond measure…

    Reply
  33. Jocy says

    August 16, 2014 at 5:23 pm

    Happy Anniversary! And you and your family are beautiful people! Even I got teary with the sweet video, what a way to show their love for your guys, beautiful!

    Reply
  34. Michelle L. says

    August 16, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    Happy Anniversary! Your boys are awesome! You and Matt are to be commended for raising such great, talented young man, and letting God lead the way. They are very talented guys and I expect them to do great things.

    Reply
  35. Terri says

    August 16, 2014 at 6:29 pm

    That was so sweet!! Happy Anniversary!

    Reply
  36. Cassandra says

    August 17, 2014 at 5:52 am

    I loved this. I even cried. How special.

    Reply
  37. Sarah Nicholson says

    August 17, 2014 at 10:51 am

    That’s so awesome!

    Reply
  38. Roxanne says

    August 17, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    Happy Belated Anniversary! I loved that video! Those 4 guys did an awesome job on it. I know you and Matt are proud of them. I enjoyed seeing them with their entire pizzas, too! I’ve got a couple of boys that likes to eat it the same way, 1 entire pizza pie in 1 big piece. :-)

    Reply
  39. Sandie A says

    August 17, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    As a music teacher, I LOVE THIS! Great job boys, and Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

    Reply
  40. Brandy Fisk says

    August 17, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    So sweet of your boys :)

    Reply
  41. Theresa says

    August 19, 2014 at 2:30 am

    That was really sweet! You are truly blessed with caring boys. This will make for great memories!! Bless you and you family as you make more memories!!!!

    My only child just moved to Phoenix, AZ from Oak Harbor, WA with her husband and two dogs. This is a hard thing for both of us since we have always been super close (just the two of us from age 2 and up – We had fun with homeschooling, and she learned how to learn not just information.), but her whole office was moved from Oak Harbor to Phoenix. I know God is in this whole situation, but it sure is not easy to walk through it. (Their house sold in 12 hours for more than they asked so to us that was definitely a sign from the Lord!)

    Reply

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