This was a fun Facebook Marriage Photo Challenge. Rich and I took turns writing for the 7-days, alternating it on our FB page. I decided to save it for posterity.
DAY 1-By Kim: We have been challenged to post marriage pictures from Steve McNitt on Facebook for 7 days. This is 'our' official Day 1 from Aug 7th 1988. This is my favorite picture of Rich looking at me from our wedding. He's always had the kindest eyes. He always looks at me with love and respect. I've always felt heard and understood. I've been blessed since the moment I said 'I DO!!'
We also nominate Jessie and Joe Barton.
DAY 2- By Rich: This is our honeymoon. I will never get over how gracious (and crazy) it was for Kim to take on 3 more children, plus the 1 she already had, the day she said "I do". We were lucky because each of us genuinely loved all the kids and saw them as our own.
Day 3-By Kim: With the election season happening, this is a fitting picture. This is one of our favorite days in our 28 years of marriage. October 2010, We spontaneously drove to Washington D.C. to experience Jon Stewarts and Stephen Colbert's Rally To Restore Sanity. (Team Sanity or Team Fear). I was so upset because I hardly recognized my country anymore and felt compelled to go. "Silent Minority, you've been summoned!" Well, 200,000+ Americans also felt compelled and showed up on the National Mall. We got to meet a super cool pastor, Mark Allert, and had a BLAST through laughter, music, and fellowship. (I made a video of it in my FB videos.) This was the anti-political Woodstock. The energy was electric and peaceful. After the day was over, Rich surprised me and took me to see my favorite play HAIR at the Kennedy Center. In all our years together, Rich and I have tracked every political season and enjoyed thousands of political conversations. Our politics have evolved over the years (thanks to thoughtful, open-minded Christians like Steve McNitt). Mostly, I want to remain on Team Sanity with you, Rich Brandt. We also nominate Tamara and Adam Gold.
Day 4-By Rich: Kim and I have had hundreds of getaways and vacations, but England was by far our favorite. We loved everything about it (especially scones & clotted cream). Here we are at Shakespeare's birthplace. And from me to you sweetheart: "I would not wish any companion in the world but you" (The Tempest). And I nominate John & MG Tindall to post pictures of their marriage for 7 days.
Day 5-By Kim: One thing I've always loved and appreciated is how Rich 'gets me'. I've had a bucket list (before there was a Bucket List movie). Over the years, he's surprised me to go see or experience or check off something on my Bucket List. This photo was when he drove me to Iowa to go see Michael Buble' in concert. We've always been great road trippers and enjoy doing life together. I nominate Jean & Mark Des Biens to share 7 Days, some of your favorite couple's moments.
Day 6-By Rich: Here we are enjoying downtown Chicago--thousands of awesome memories from our beloved hometown. We will always be forever Chicagoans. I nominate Michele & Dick Lemberger to do the 7 Day marriage photo challenge.
Day 7-By Kim: Moving to FL has been another grand adventure (probably our biggest). I like this picture because I'm putting on my brave face. Rich is always smiling. I'm glad we moved here now, while we were younger, instead of 75 and retired. We've been here 10 months. We've had many unexpected challenges that were bigger then us, and we lost Fred suddenly. It's been difficult to be away from people who've 'known us and get us'. Florida can feel like you're on a different planet. At times, it's been painfully lonely, even boring without girlfriends and our couple-friends. I underestimated how long it takes to build new lifelong relationships. But we have each other. We go down to the beach and it feels like home. We walk the ocean shore and the impact of change washes off for the moment. The level horizon reminds me how God is always present. I look out to the ocean and imagine we have a big life ahead us (Lord willing). Life in FL is good; we still feel like we are on vacation. And every day we say, "We live in FLORIDA! We know it won't always be this way; soon we'll have community and refrigerator friendships. Buddha will replace Fred on the couch and someday snuggle (now he wants to bite everything). In the meantime, we'll continue to laugh and love and have deep conversations about existence on this big blue ball in the Universe. There is nobody in the world I'd rather do life with and go on grand adventures with than Rich Brandt. ✌🏼️😎
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