A Different Kind of Anniversary
Can you believe it’s been almost five years?
Honestly, neither can we.
Nearly five years ago, Tracey and I stood barefoot in the sand on a beautiful beach in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, surrounded by nearly 100 family members and friends, and promised forever to one another.
It was everything we had dreamed it would be.
Afterward, we spent another incredible week in Cancún celebrating our honeymoon with three other couples, making memories we’ll treasure forever.
Not long after we were married, I told Tracey that for our fifth anniversary, I wanted him to surprise me with a trip to Europe.
I didn’t care where we went….I didn’t want to help plan it.
I simply wanted to wander charming streets, sit at sidewalk cafés, people-watch for hours, and wake each morning to a balcony overlooking the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Oh…and I wanted to fly first class.
A girl can dream, right?
Sometimes Plans Change
There was a reason I chose our fifth anniversary.
At the time, I thought Caitlynn would be old enough that I’d feel comfortable leaving her for a couple of weeks.
As it turns out…
I was wrong.
Even though she had already traveled to Australia with her Dad for three weeks, I wasn’t ready for it to be my decision to leave her behind.
So we found ourselves asking a lot of questions.
Do we postpone Europe?…Do we travel somewhere else?…Do we celebrate quietly?…Do we take the family?
The more we talked, the more we realized something important.
The destination wasn’t what mattered most.
The people were.
Going Back Where It All Began
Instead of crossing an ocean, we decided to return to the place where our marriage began.
The place where we said “I do.”
We first invited our kids.
Unfortunately, because Chris and Rachel were now living in Texas, their girls’ school schedule didn’t line up with ours in Arizona, making an October celebration impossible.
After plenty of conversations, calendar juggling, and prayer, we landed on June instead.
Problem solved.
Or so we thought.
Then another idea came along.
The More the Merrier
Why celebrate alone?
We rented the condo next to ours so our growing family would have plenty of room.
Then we started thinking…
What if we invited everyone who had celebrated with us five years earlier?
Surely most people wouldn’t be able to come.
After all…
It was our anniversary.
We couldn’t have been more wrong.
Sixty-Five Reasons to Celebrate
Fast forward a few months.
It’s June.
We’re driving to Rocky Point.
And instead of just the nine of us…
More than 65 family members and friends joined us.
It was beyond anything we had imagined.
One of my longtime dreams had always been to spend time in Puerto Peñasco with people we love—not necessarily staying together every minute, but sharing meals, relaxing by the pool, enjoying the beach, and knowing everyone had their own place to retreat and recharge.
That’s exactly what happened.
Some friends stayed three days.
Others stayed four.
Some stayed the entire week.
Sometimes there were ten of us together….Sometimes twenty-five….Sometimes thirty-five.
And one unforgettable Sunday morning…
All sixty-five of us gathered together for brunch on our patio.
It was one of those moments we’ll never forget.
Making Memories Together
Throughout the week we did what we love most.
We shared meals.
Floated the lazy river.
Relaxed on the beach.
Played games around the dining table and out on the patio.
Shared drinks….Shared laughter….Shared stories.
Most importantly…
We shared life.
Those moments are the ones that stay with you long after the vacation ends.
To Our Family
To our children…
Chris, Rachel, Lilah, and Norah.
Cody and Michael.
Caitlynn.
Thank you for making time in your busy lives to celebrate with us.
You bring more joy, laughter, and purpose into our lives than you’ll ever know.
Every trip is better because you’re part of it.
To Our Family and Friends
To every family member and every friend who rearranged schedules, took vacation time, crossed state lines, and made the trip to celebrate with us…
Thank you.
Your presence meant far more than any anniversary gift ever could.
We hope you know how much each of you means to us.
Many of you have become more like family than friends.
Life simply wouldn’t be the same without you.
What We Learned
If this trip reminded us of anything, it’s this:
The best vacations aren’t always about where you go.
They’re about who you’re with.
Places become memorable because of the people who share them with us.
Five years after saying “I do,” we realized our greatest blessing wasn’t the wedding itself.
It was the incredible community of family and friends who have continued walking through life with us ever since.
We hope we’ll do this again.
Hopefully sooner than another five years.
Because life’s greatest journeys are always better when they’re shared.
With much love,
Donna & Tracey
P.S. If you took photos during the trip, we’d love to include them in a Shutterfly memory book. Send us your email address, and we’ll invite you to our Dropbox folder so you can upload your favorites. Once the album is complete, we’ll happily send everyone a link if you’d like to order a copy of your own.