These Happy Golden Years

Five years ago today we promised to love one another for the rest of our lives with the rest of our lives. The road God has led us on since that day hasn't been exactly what we'd anticipated but by it we've grown more and more in trusting His hand and becoming even closer friends than we were the day we were married. If an outsider were to look at our life you would probably see the dramatic changes in some of our circumstances in the last few months and have little idea how much God has done in providing bountifully exactly what we needed when we needed (financially, spiritually, relationally), in providing by taking away or not giving us what we desired, and in faithfully drawing our hearts to Him over anything else. Through our marriage and through the way God has led both Dre and I, I have come to know God more and trust Him more completely and there is no greater gift I could hope for in our marriage than that that continues. The song "Sometimes A Light Surprises" has been on repeat on my playlist for months now and I can't summarize any better the way God has been there for us the last five years than that.

My love, I love you far more deeply and far more completely than I ever knew I could love someone five years ago. You have carried my faith when it was weak, cried with me and for me, patiently served me in big ways and small ways, sought to bless me and make me smile every day, and been my best friend in the tenderest ways. I love the man you are: the hard-worker, the joker, the sports fan, and the loyal friend. I love the way you wholeheartedly pursue the things that you love whether it be learning your job as an ATC, DC sports teams, your friends, or whatever random item catches your interest that you spend hours learning about via books and the internet. I can't wait for the next fifty years by your side.

To our friends and family, we can't imagine life these five years without your influence, fellowship, laughter, and support. Whether you were co-workers, care group members, friends from high school, or people God randomly put in our lives we are grateful for you and the fact that our marriage is full to the brim of dear friends who love both of us.

And now we're off! To spend our traditional weekend in DC to celebrate. This year we're bringing 'with' us someone extra, name unknown, and estimated date of arrival into our arms in early December... Meet our Sweet Baby K!  

What a five years!!