Hello, Lovely People

I hope everyone is enjoying your day, and are healthy and safe.

My hubby and I are celebrating our twenty-one year wedding anniversary today, September 11th. We wanted to share a little bit about what is on our mind as we celebrate this wonderful occasion.

Engagement Photo: 1999 / Easter Portrait: 2020

She Said: The Keys
I am grateful and thankful. I didn’t have a role model of what I thought marriage should look like when we first got married; so we had to create it. To create it we had to make sure we put God as the center and we intentionally communicate with each other. Being married to your best friend is a blessing but not always perfect. I often would hear marriage is not about work, but I found out to make your marriage fruitful, it does take work from both people. Sometimes I feel that I do not measure up because right now we don’t have any children and people can look at us funny. Even church people look at you funny like what’s up with you if you don’t have children hanging on you or around you. Children are lovely but they’re not the sum total of who we are as people. It took time for me to realize that God made each one of us special and no one is bigger or better than you because there’s only one you.

I have so much more to learn but four key takeaways include:
1. To communicate with each other
2. Be a cheerleader for your spouse
3. Listen to your spouse when they are talking to you and make eye contact
4. Plan for a date night every week just the two of you

Vinny, our thirteen-and-a-half tri-collie went to be with the Lord this past weekend. We are heartbroken, however, we know he had a great life and he knew that we loved him dearly. I was saying and thinking that we can’t have any fun because we needed to mourn and to reflect on the ways that Vinny blessed our lives.

However, we know that God brought us together so we have to celebrate this gift of marriage and be life long learners.

Joyce Meyer Ministries sent this scripture as a piece of artwork below to us and it speaks volumes.
HOPE
BELIEVES
BOLDLY,
DECIDES
DARINGLY,
SPEAKS
FIRMLY and
PERSEVERES
Passionately.
See Romans 15:13

He Said: The Journey
Wow! 21 years!
How can that be possible? It seems like only yesterday that we went on our first day to the Art Museum back in 1997. Right from the start, I know you were something special. You had a way about you that I had never seen in a woman before. You cared for me, even when I did not deserve it. You stuck with me, even when I was not acting right. I thank God for bringing you into my life.

Our journey started out as friends, but the relationship grew closer and stronger right from the start. We had so much in common that it was hard for me to believe a small-town country boy could fall in love with a big-city girl. It did not take long for me to realize that my life’s journey would be incomplete without you. I wanted you by my side for the rest of my life.

Today, I love you more than the day we walked down the aisle together. You are more beautiful than the first day I laid eyes on you. You are more compassionate, more caring, more creative, more intelligent, more everything.

While on the journey, you lifted me up out of the valley and cheered for me when at the mountain top. Because of you and your love, I am a better man, a better husband, a better Christian, and a better employee. You have made me better in every way.

I look to what the future holds for us and I am excited about the next steps of our journey. When I look into your eyes, I can see many great and mighty things for you and for me. A future filled with increased hope, with great joy, and many shared dreams coming true.

Take me by the hand and let us continue with that journey we begun 21 years ago today. I pray that God continually blesses you with an abundance of joy and happiness.