Approaching A Decade

I'm gettin outta dodge for over a week, and it's to celebrate my 10th Wedding Anniversary with my husband. We are going to Greece, yep, Greece. I know, nuts huh?!

I was hesitant to go for many reasons, some I can mention,
others I'd rather not for now. But with doctor approvals,
meds, rubs, patches, creams and oils, I am pretty much good to go.

Here is the very first picture ever taken of me and my husband/January of 2001

We met at an advertising agency that we both worked at--he chased me for months, no lie. I finally fell for him a few months later. . . lucky guy. JK

I love this picture--a lot of our pictures were taken before digital existed.

We had quite the love affair for a few years, but

our marriage has not been without mental illness,

sickness, disease, abuse, betrayal, conflict, unhappiness,

frustration, arrogance, pride--a lot of  turmoil. A lot

of brokenness.

But our marriage has had humor,compromise, 

patience, faith in God, holiness, forgiveness, mercy,

grace, fun, spontaneity, and travel.

Cabo San Lucas/April 2010

Somethings we enjoy doing together and have done through the years are going to Europe, taking drives and exploring new towns, shopping, thrifting, going on walks, volunteering, supporting others financially, playing with our dog, church activities, laughing, going to restaurants (date night), playing play station, art, organic foods, watching movies, and if I'm lucky, long talks.

Our first trip to Amsterdam--our last night/Feb 2001, complete and utter love bugs.

At our rehearsal dinner/November 8th, 2001

Our Wedding Day/November 10th, 2001

 My Mom putting on my Necklace (I wore her Wedding Dress! It was a mock neck so I had it cut out and added a scoop neck)

My favorite picture.

 Madelynn and I dancing at the Reception--she was my Maid Of Honor

Our Wedding was beautiful, the ceremony, the dresses, family, friendships, the happiness, the cake, the guests, the food, the vows. And the reception was a blast.  we had it at an old theater from the early 1900's. It was gorgeous. 

Don't mind the 10 years worth of pictures: Here we go...

Here we are in Puebla Mexico on a mission trip with my daughter/January 2007

In Bern Switzerland/May 2006

 My husband having fun with his apple.

 My husband having fun with his apple again.

With our doggies.

 My birthday at buca/March 2010

On the North Shore of Lake Superior/March 2011

Who knows what the next 10 years will bring, and if I had to give any "advice" on

marriage, I would say here is what has been the FIVE things EACH of us HAVE brought:

Humor

Faith In God

Compromise

Mercy

Forgiveness and Grace (well, ok 6 things)

While I'm away (this will be my last post for 10 days or so, I have a few guest posts YAY, my first!) And I hope to be posting some beautiful pictures along the way on our travels.

I hope you'll stay tuned and not give up on my blog while I'm away.

I will leave you with a quote I whole heartily believe in: (thanks to Leslie at Show The Wonder blog), some lyrics from a Sara Groves song, it shows what we have to do in not only our everyday life, but in marriage. It's about humility, and lastly one of the most beautiful things I've ever read on marriage:

"Marriage requires a radical commitment to love our spouses as they are, while longing for them to become what they are not yet. Every marriage moves either toward enhancing one another's glory and God's glory, or toward degrading one another."

When anger fills your heart

When in your pain and hurt

You find the strength to stop

You bless instead of curse

When doubting floods your soul

Though all things feel unjust

You open up your heart

You find a way to trust

That's a little stone that's a little mortar

That's a little seed that's a little water
Sara Groves


"Today on your wedding day, and each day of the rest of your lives: May you never expect perfection of each other, but… May you minimize each other’s weaknesses, be swift to praise and magnify each other’s points of attraction and strength, and see each other through a lover’s kind and patient eyes. May you each find a little something to forgive every day that you may grow in the grace of long-suffering and love. May you have enough tears to keep you tender, enough hurts to keep you human, enough of failure to keep your hands clenched tightly in one another’s and enough delight to bring you awe. May you henceforth choose to cherish, choose to believe the best, choose to forgive and choose to stay engaged in your life-long commitment. May your eyes be eyes that see, your ears be ears that hear, and your hearts be hearts that perceive and receive the true essence of one another and our beautiful world. May you never take each other’s love for granted but always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims, “out of all this world you have chosen me!”

Blessing and Peace.