13 Years!

Today is Ryan and mine's "anniversary" for our first date! Before we were married we made a big deal (for some reason) out of it! Which was fun!! We've done a few fun things since we've been married on this day. One time he did a BIG surprise for me when we lived in Lowell, got a babysitter for Lindsey, had candles and pictures all around our room, wrote me a letter and made a "mixed tape" (CD) of songs that were popular to us when we were in high school and college! :) Memories....

I'm just so thankful for my husband and who he is. I'm thank ful that he is a faithful, loving husband to me. I'm thankful that he is an amazing dad and lives to be that for our girls. I'm thankful that he is a hard worker and cares about the people he works with! I'm thankful that he is a Sunday school teacher to these boys that love him! I love him!

Last night at church we did our Christmas program. I was recruited to a speaking part by our music minister. Which was fine, it wasn't a big part it was just a simple speaking part at the end. The idea was that I was someone who once didn't believe in Jesus, went through my parent's divorce, found the Lord and now loved God. Which thankfully isn't my story. I know it is so many people's story though.

Anyway, last night my mom and dad came. They have been married coming up on 32 years! Wow! What a blessing! When I looked down at my parents last night, holding Lindsey as they hung on every word I was saying, I FELL.COMPLETELY.APART! I don't know where it came from or why it hit me like that. I have just heard of quite a few people lately that I personally know or that are family and friends of my friends that are going through a divorce. So as I stood there last night thinking about this "part" that I was saying, it just hit me as to how thankful I was that God had blessed my family and that I by HIS grace wasn't sharing my testimony of a broken family, but could be humbled and thnakful for MY family! Wow! I could cry now.

Then I thought later of how thankful I am for a husband that loves me unconditionally. I know there are those times that we go through where we drive eachother crazy. We all do. But, I also know that I married him, committed my life to him, and meant the words "until death do we part!"

On our tour of homes I saw a quote in one that said something (I can't remember exactly) like "You have to work on forever every day" or something like that. You get the idea! I LOVE that. Marriage is hard work! Sometimes we have to sacrifce what we as an individual wants for what might be best for our family or spouse. I'm thankful for a mom a and dad who have made those sacrifices and worked hard to keep their marriage togethter! I'm thankful for a husband who is willing to work with me and love me to keep our marriage together.

So, Happy "Anniversary" Ryan! I love you!