Last week I found this picture on our computer. I SO love it. I know it's not the best quality, it's a bit blurry and pixelated.....and is over 9 years old. But it shows so much. Aaron's Auntie Joy snapped this picture as we were leaving the church on our wedding night. Heading home to our little duplex together for the first time as husband and wife. I have never been more sure of anything in my whole life. Aaron is God's Best for me. Do you see the unspeakable joy on our faces? The anticipation? WOW. We were 28 and 29....ready to take on the world as a married couple. Ready to serve our Jesus together as husband and wife. Ready to start a family......and love each other forever. All of those things are still true. Why? Because I married God's Best. I never would have guessed we would have been through all we have now. Infertility, three miscarriages, the loss of my Dad and our son Elliott, anxiety and fear.....the adoption of our sweet Halle Grace. Now we are stronger than ever. Marriage is super hard work. Without hesitation, I would be the first to tell you that. With Jesus our marriage has survived while others around us have fallen and crumbled. That hurts my heart. It makes me so sad to see how many marriages around me have led to divorce. I'm so sad and frustrated by the choices some people make. I have watched my Sister and some very close friends go through divorce. It stinks and it's really hard for me to put myself in their shoes. I think I would have never made those choices in the first place. But, is that the truth?
When I was in my twenties I dated a man I thought I would marry. He and his family were my life. Let me be clear in writing this. I know they may read this and I have no hurt feelings towards Luke and his family at all. After dating for 1 1/2 years our relationship ended. It really was for the best, but I didn't think that at the time. That relationship made me grow into the woman I am today. I had to rely on Jesus and my identity in Christ not in my boyfriend and his family. It was then I learned who I really was. Believe it or not, this is how I became the independent redhead I am today. You can thank for me that later, Aaron. Choosing to serve on the Youth Staff at my then church caused me to grow spiritually under the guidance of our Youth Pastor Jon & his wife Stacey. Through this experience I gained lifelong friends who still guide me today. During this time I also moved back home after living with a roommate for four years. I lost my job....and my new one didn't pay as much as I was accustomed to. Because of this, I took on a second job on Saturday's to supplement my income, working with my friend Candace. She was the one who set Aaron and I up on our first date. And...I am forever grateful. In our house we don't use the term "God's Best" loosely. I only know that Jesus is the one who brought my husband to me and having Him in your marriage is the only way to keep the marriage healthy and whole. Praying together, honoring each other and continually striving to make it work as God intended marriage to be.
