Twenty years ago on July 1, 2000 my husband, Derek and I said “I do!” My mom said to me the other day, “It feels like yesterday.” I think if feels just right…twenty is a beautiful number.

I’ve been an elementary school teacher for twenty-one years. My first year of teaching, I didn’t have very many girls in my second grade classroom and I thought it would be so special to have them be my flower girls. These girls were all in my very first class…a special group of children that I’ll never forget.

I remember getting dressed at the church and hearing all the chitter chatter from my girls…it made me feel right at home like it was my classroom.

These seven girls, plus one junior bridesmaid, (Megan, Lauren K, Lauren B, Lauren G, Clarinda, Amanda, Kate & Samantha) danced the night away. It’s hard to believe that they are a little older than I was when we were married. Many have children of their own. I imagine that after twenty years, some might be reading fairytales again like they did with me in the second grade but with their own children.

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We like to watch our wedding video on our anniversary. My daughter said, I wish I could have been there and danced with those girls!.

I’m so grateful that these girls shared in our special day twenty years ago and wish them a future of happy memories.

The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they’re right if you love to be with them all the time. ~Julia Child