Celebrating 6 Years of Marriage!

Paul & I have been married for 6 years today!  I am so thankful for my wonderful husband.  He is so good to me, Nolin, & Kai.

In celebration of our anniversary I want to share the proposal poem that Paul wrote & read to me in Paris, France on top of the Eiffel Tower on the 18th of April 2005.

Three Questions...

Why this place?

Here we are, one-thousand feet above the ground;

and we stand here gazing down

at the world beneath our feet.

So much of it we have braved together;

from home's familiar shore to chance's foreign sea.

With each passing storm we continue to hold fast;

and place another stone in a foundation built to last

throughout all time, toil, trouble and strife.

We are growing together;

supporting one another in all of life.

So this place seems fitting as it looms above;

emitting a soft, sweet glow over this city of love.

With the strength of iron and steel, rivet and truss,

may this place be a symbol 

our children can look to and see us.

Why this girl?

A twist of fate has given me this question to ask;

and a journey of growth and healing brings me to the task

of telling you the reasons that I feel as I do.

And there is no better time and no better place

than this frozen moment between me and you.

You've given me something that I didn't know could exist;

something far beyond your touch or your kiss.

You've given me a love proven to be true;

you've given me a friend,

you've given me you.

My words are but few for a heart so vast;

with dreams of a future as bright as those past.

With each passing day, I can more clearly see

that come what may

I love all of you with all of me.

So, this leaves but one simple question to ask;

and I do so with a symbol from generations past.

Standing here knowing that all things are as they should be,

I ask my final question.

Brandi Barnes...will you marry me?

In case you were wondering - I said yes!  :)

I love you Paul Nolin Markham!  Come what may, I will love you until my dying day!  ;)