9 Years together ...

9 Years ago two incredibly naive people walked into a church filled with family and friends eager to get married. Marriage, marriage is what brought us together that day! ;) (two points if you get the reference) However, we had NO clue what the road ahead would bring us. None!

As a single girl you dream your whole life possibly, of the day you will put on a white gown and have your father or someone walk you down an aisle so that you can meet your handsome groom at the end and be joined together in a union that will last until death do you part ...

That is the way it is supposed to be at least ... the death you do part statement. A lot of us look at marriages around us and we project that they are happy as they appear to be and some are, but I'd be willing to bet that many, sadly many are just faking it hoping they will make it. They aren't sure if they will make it to the end of the week much less the ends of their lives. Marriage takes hard work. Hard work by two messed up people whose lives have been joined by a vow and a mutual love for the other.

What is a vow? To me, the vow I made 9 years ago is what I leaned on when times got tough in our marriage. I won't bore you with the gory details of our "stuff" but there was a day when we could have thrown in the towel and said "I quit, I'm done". Honestly that day was more real and scary that I'd like to admit. However, the Lord kept reminding me of the fact that I made a vow not only to Jeremy, but to HIM. I stood before my family and my friends and I said that for better or WORSE I would honor, love and respect my husband. I hadn't done a very good job at that during the "worse" moments of my marriage. The Lord reminded me of so much that I felt walking out would be so dishonoring of Him and my vow to both my Lord and my husband. So you know what, we dug in our heals and we did some hard fighting. We had some amazing friends who stood in the trenches with us and were on their knees praying for us during that time.

So here we are 9 years later, a stronger couple than we could have ever imagined walking into that church in GA that hot Saturday in August. Our union is stronger than I ever dreamed it would be during our "worse" moments. I'm thankful for those who stood by us, fought with us, loved us and prayed with us through our hard times.

Jeremy, I love you more than I can express. The man you are today is a strong man. One who loves the Lord and his wife and family. One who puts his God first, wife second and family next. One who I'm proud to say wears my ring on his left hand. I'm proud of the family that God gave us. I look forward to many, many more years ahead. I look forward to wherever God will lead us together ... It's going to be amazing babe! I'm thankful I get to do this journey WITH you! Thanks for asking me to walk beside you through life! I'm thankful for the lessons we have learned since that hot day in August 2003! I LOVE YOU!

The grass is not greener on the other side of the street ... the grass is greener where it is water and fertilized. How are you watering and fertilizing your marriage?

8 Years

8 Years ago we said "I do" to each other. It's crazy to think that it's been 8 years. In some ways it seems like a blink of an eye and in other ways it seems so much more than 8 years.

In 8 years we have .... lived in 5 different houses in 3 different states. We had 3 children, experienced 2 miscarriages, and now have one on the way. We have experienced some high highs and low lows. We have traveled together and learned to make our marriage a priority. We have fought through some hard times in our marriage and we have come out on the other side and look forward to how God will use this story for His good. We have learned a lot and have a lot to be thankful for. 8 Years! I look forward to all that lies ahead of us.

Jeremy, I love you and I'm thankful for you in our lives. I'm proud of you and all that you have accomplished and the man you are today. I look forward to how God will continue to work in our lives and use our life together to further His kingdom. Thank you for being you and for loving us the way you do! Thank you for being the husband you are, the father you are and the friend to all of us that you are!

I love you!

I still do ...

Seven years ago we said "I Do". Guess what? I still do! It has been a full 7 years. We have had 3 children, 1 dog, we have moved 5 times to 3 different states, and had many ups and downs. I have been blessed to have a husband who loves me and loves his children. He loves being a husband and father and it shows.

I love you Jeremy and am so blessed to have you by my side! I look forward to the next year (and many years after that)! I can't wait to see what God does in and through us! May this next year be our best yet! I'm so glad that we are running this race hand in hand!

6 years!

6 Years ago we said I do before many friends and family. Happy Anniversary J! I love you and I still do!

Tomorrow is the day!

We had a great anniversary. Thanks to my mom for watching the boys. We went out to breakfast, did some shopping, watched a movie (for the first time in I don't know how long in a movie theatre) and had a late lunch. Fun times.

Tomorrow is the big day ... My amnio is at 8:30 AM ... if you think of it say a prayer for us.

5 years!

5 years ago I married my best friend. It is so hard to believe that we have been married for 5 years. A lot has happened in our lives over the past 5 years. We have 2 beautiful kids and one on the way soon. We have weathered some storms and enjoyed some sunny sky's. I believe we are better because of the storms we have weathered.

Jeremy, I love you and am proud to be your wife. I so enjoy running the race of this life next to you, hand in hand. I can't imagine going through life without you by my side. You are a wonderful husband, father to our kids, and friend to our friends. You act selflessly as you walk through your life.

I know this past year and a half of our life has been hard. We have wondered where we were headed in life due to the events of last March but I couldn't be more proud of how you walked our family through this season. You kept your eyes on Jesus and let him chart our course even though some days were really hard you never let it affect the way you led our family through that time.

I look forward to the next 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 plus years that we have ahead of us. I look forward to all that God will do in our lives and how he will grow us closer together as husband and wife and as a family unit. I look forward to walking through life with you by my side! I know as long as we keep our eyes on Jesus and each other ... allowing him to be the third part of our marriage that we can't go wrong!

I love you and thank you for the past 5 years of my life! Thank you for being the man, husband, friend, and father that you are! Happy Anniversary honey!