January 15, 1994

By God's grace, the first and most important decision of my life and most precious eternal gift happened in July 1993 when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. By God's grace, the second most important decision and the most precious earthly gift I have received happened 20 years ago yesterday. On January 15, 1994, before God, I married my dearest and best friend. He was 20 and I was 19 and God has grown us up together in Him. Some years were pressing, some extra sweet, but all of them have been precious to me. I love you Chad, more than my heart could ever express and I will thank God for you always, until my very last breath.

It's a little late but I was having trouble with Blogger ... better late than never! :-) 

We had the sweetest week ever off together in a condo on Solana Beach.  Lots of beach time, running, relaxing, dinner with Andrew & Abbie and a visit with Grandma Alden & Aunt Leah! 

We are thanking the Lord for His kindness to us in our time away.  

Sunset run :-)

The panoramic view from our condo. :-)

19

Celebrating 19 precious years married to my dearest and best friend. Thank you Lord.  

A fun side note.... I have officially been married as many years as I was not married!
Married at 19, married 19 years!

 

 

 

 

"God Bless Our Home"

We have looked at those four words on this little clock for 18 years now.  Our dear friends Carl & Laurie Smith from Alaska gave us that little clock on our wedding day 18 years ago, January 15, 1994.  This past Sunday Chad and I celebrated 18 sweet and salty years! I love thinking of the years in these terms because you often need the salty to enhance the sweetness!  God has truly blessed our home.  He has given us new life both physically and spiritually, multiple joys and sorrows, countless tender and severe mercies and He has lathered us with His grace over the years.  He gave us the privilege of walking many years alongside Papa and Gigi as their earthly lives ended and their eternal lives began, all under His tender loving care.  God has truly blessed our home.  This little clock died a few weeks ago, a new battery isn’t doing the trick anymore.  It is one of the few remaining gifts from our wedding day and still hangs indefinitely in our bathroom as I don’t have the heart to take it down yet … maybe someday! Until then, may it be a sweet reminder of the precious time God has already granted us and to anticipate what He will do through our family in the many years ahead.

Seventeen Years.....

and happily counting more! This past Saturday marked 17 years married for Chad and I!  On January 15, 1994 at the tender ages of 19 & 20 we vowed to love, honor and cherish each other till death doth part us. Seventeen years and five children later is a good start but truly just a drop in the bucket compared to the 64 years my grandparents spent together, but none the less a joy for us. We truly had no comprehension of the depths to the vows we were making that cold winter day in Alaska, but by the grace of God, He has intertwined our two individual lives with Himself and in Him we are one…. a three cord strand not easily broken.

We were very thankful for the opportunity to go away for one night! This only happened because of the many sweet people who took our responsibilities for a time so we could have this special night away. Mitchell offered to stay with Papa and so with sweet R’s help for the overnight, he took care of Papa for us….we love that boy and are so grateful for who he is and his kind heart. The younger four had an absolutely wonderful time with Kelsey and Aaron Tolsma for the night! We have heard all about what fun they had….the Library, Dairy Queen, Edaleen for ice cream, movies, dress up….the list goes on…thank you Kels and Aaron! Sweet Mrs. E came out when the children were brought home to spend some time with them and help Mitchell as he needed it. The kiddos so enjoyed their time with Mrs. E also…thank you Barb!

Earlier in the week we took some time to watch our wedding video with the children… what a hoot that was! We had a little shocker when we realized that Mitchell now, at 14 ½, and being 5’10’’ and 185 lbs. is the same height but weighs 40 lbs. more than Chad did when we got married!!! Not to mention his current shoe size …between a 12 and 13 totally dwarfs his Daddy….even now! We often lamented how over quick our service went, almost a drive thru wedding! This time while watching the video we timed it and after the processional and all the wedding party was up front, from the Pastor’s first words until he pronounced us man and wife was 6 min. and 40 seconds!!!! There was still a song and a couple small happenings after that but the total service time from the first lighting of the candles to the last person walking off the stage was something like 22 minutes….YIKES…how many things we would change about that day if we could! We love how different the weddings are now and how there is much more than just the “I DO’s”. Special vows and a charge by the pastor are just a couple of the sweet things we get to enjoy now. It is fun to look back and enjoy memory of the day but in reality it is not the “wedding day” that matters but the marriage itself. To God’s glory we are best friends who are so grateful to be married to one another!

Ecclesiastes 9:9

Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.

Then and Now.....quite a difference!





64 Years

Song of Solomon 3:4….I found him whom my soul loves.

On April 14 we had the joy of celebrating with my Papa and Gigi for their 64th wedding anniversary. When I consider the sweet marriage I see today, I cannot help but recognize that the foundation and core of this union was built over decades as they put their trust in our Heavenly Father….a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecc. 4:12

Has it been 64 years of perfect wedded bliss, absent of peril or pain…..certainly not.
It has been 64 years of following their savior, undying love, faithfulness, selflessness, sorrow, patience, joy, sacrifice, humility, pain, laughter, adventure, trust, thankfulness, service, contentment...the list could go on.

Even now in the midst of difficult circumstances, as they near the end of this life on earth, we get to witness the sweet kisses and tender words of love they still exchange daily. This privilege is ours and we know the rarity of such an example in marriage.  Our hearts are full of love and thankfulness for their godly legacy.


This song, Find Us Faithful by Steve Green, is a favorite and I believe encompasses my grandparents.

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift though all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

“For you have heard my vows, O God;

you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name”

(Psalm 61:5)

May all who come behind us find us faithful