Everything Under the Son
Because JESUS is my everything
Nine Years **Edited**
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Today marks NINE years of marriage for Nathaniel and I. Wow...nine whole years. In some ways, it seems like yesterday that we were making vows to one another. In other ways, it seems as though we have been together forever. What in the world did I do with myself...my spare time...before I was married?
It's certainly been a wild ride...we've packed much into those nine years. We have fabulous memories. We had what I believe to be the most beautiful wedding! We have laughed lots, spent many hours garage-saling (what, you don't consider that quality time?), played our share of mini-golf, and have transitioned into the one thing I thought we would never be...mini-van owners. We have survived cancer, him by my side always. We have endured many a medical test-surgery- uncertain test result. We have faced infertility, and ridden the roller coaster that all of that brings...together. We have the cutest kids...together. Each of those babies, the perfect blend of us...they have Nathaniel's long, beautiful eyelashes, and my funny toes. We have two children in Heaven, something no parent should ever have to grieve...but we continue to journey as parents of children in Heaven, and we walk that journey together. We both love to eat stir-fry, and nothing beats a great cup of coffee. He loves technology, and I love that he loves technology. I love artsy-crafty fun, and he tolerates my projects and the messes I make along the way. Together, we can devour a good carrot cake, complete with cream cheese icing! And don't forget we love to laugh...with each other, and sometimes AT each other!
We each have quirks, and it's funny how those quirks compliment each other. I cannot stand for the counter to be cluttered, but a few dishes in the sink don't bother me. Nathaniel has no worries about a cluttered counter, but cannot sleep if there are dishes in the sink. Perfect. I clean the counters and put all of the dirty dishes in the sink, and he washes them! The perfect compliment I would say :)
It hasn't been all rosy and wonderful. There are plenty of days when life bogs us down, or we disagree on things. Marriage is hard...and though that simple sentence is spoken so often and seems to simple, it is oh.so.true. Marriage is hard. Add parenting to that and it is harder. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't. I'd be lying if I said that we haven't had some rough times. We have. I know you may be surprised to learn that oftentimes, I am VERY hard to live with! I make lots and lots of mistakes. I say things that are hurtful to Nathaniel. I am a mess. But he loves me anyway. He models grace and forgiveness for me and towards me daily.
Nine years ago today, we made a vow to each other and to GOD. We vowed to love one another, and we vowed to put GOD at the center of our marriage and to work hard at resisting satan and his attempts to come between us.. This morning, my husband sent me a text message with these words: "Nine years ago today, I promised to love you forever. I'd do it again today." Precious words.
Today, as I celebrate nine years of marriage, and as I say a prayer of thanks for those years as well as the many more that are to come, I am also mindful that there are struggling marriages out there, and I am praying for God to work in BIG ways to heal broken hearts, to mend hurt feelings, and to patch up holes if mistrust. I am praying that He will shower those marriages with grace and HOPE and love. I am also aware that there are people out there who would love to find love, but haven't met "Mr. or Mrs. Right" yet. I am praying that God will fill those hearts with Him, and give them peace. I am praying that if they are to marry, that they will be patient in their choices, for God will bring His choice in a mate to them in His time. And if they are not to ever marry, I pray for peace with that, and that they will be full of joy, and never feel as though they are "missing out"...that God will bless those people beyond their wildest single dreams!
Nathaniel, I love you! I am thankful that you love me too...through the good, the bad, the ugly, and of course, the hilarious! Happy Anniversary, honey!
************************************************
***EDIT***
As a surprise, I sang to Nathaniel in our wedding. He had NO IDEA I was going to sing to him, and had this strange grin on his face when I started to sing, and that "deer in the headlights" look! Below are the lyrics to the song I chose to sing to him...the words are still so meaningful to me today!
It's certainly been a wild ride...we've packed much into those nine years. We have fabulous memories. We had what I believe to be the most beautiful wedding! We have laughed lots, spent many hours garage-saling (what, you don't consider that quality time?), played our share of mini-golf, and have transitioned into the one thing I thought we would never be...mini-van owners. We have survived cancer, him by my side always. We have endured many a medical test-surgery- uncertain test result. We have faced infertility, and ridden the roller coaster that all of that brings...together. We have the cutest kids...together. Each of those babies, the perfect blend of us...they have Nathaniel's long, beautiful eyelashes, and my funny toes. We have two children in Heaven, something no parent should ever have to grieve...but we continue to journey as parents of children in Heaven, and we walk that journey together. We both love to eat stir-fry, and nothing beats a great cup of coffee. He loves technology, and I love that he loves technology. I love artsy-crafty fun, and he tolerates my projects and the messes I make along the way. Together, we can devour a good carrot cake, complete with cream cheese icing! And don't forget we love to laugh...with each other, and sometimes AT each other!
We each have quirks, and it's funny how those quirks compliment each other. I cannot stand for the counter to be cluttered, but a few dishes in the sink don't bother me. Nathaniel has no worries about a cluttered counter, but cannot sleep if there are dishes in the sink. Perfect. I clean the counters and put all of the dirty dishes in the sink, and he washes them! The perfect compliment I would say :)
It hasn't been all rosy and wonderful. There are plenty of days when life bogs us down, or we disagree on things. Marriage is hard...and though that simple sentence is spoken so often and seems to simple, it is oh.so.true. Marriage is hard. Add parenting to that and it is harder. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't. I'd be lying if I said that we haven't had some rough times. We have. I know you may be surprised to learn that oftentimes, I am VERY hard to live with! I make lots and lots of mistakes. I say things that are hurtful to Nathaniel. I am a mess. But he loves me anyway. He models grace and forgiveness for me and towards me daily.
Nine years ago today, we made a vow to each other and to GOD. We vowed to love one another, and we vowed to put GOD at the center of our marriage and to work hard at resisting satan and his attempts to come between us.. This morning, my husband sent me a text message with these words: "Nine years ago today, I promised to love you forever. I'd do it again today." Precious words.
Today, as I celebrate nine years of marriage, and as I say a prayer of thanks for those years as well as the many more that are to come, I am also mindful that there are struggling marriages out there, and I am praying for God to work in BIG ways to heal broken hearts, to mend hurt feelings, and to patch up holes if mistrust. I am praying that He will shower those marriages with grace and HOPE and love. I am also aware that there are people out there who would love to find love, but haven't met "Mr. or Mrs. Right" yet. I am praying that God will fill those hearts with Him, and give them peace. I am praying that if they are to marry, that they will be patient in their choices, for God will bring His choice in a mate to them in His time. And if they are not to ever marry, I pray for peace with that, and that they will be full of joy, and never feel as though they are "missing out"...that God will bless those people beyond their wildest single dreams!
Nathaniel, I love you! I am thankful that you love me too...through the good, the bad, the ugly, and of course, the hilarious! Happy Anniversary, honey!
************************************************
***EDIT***
As a surprise, I sang to Nathaniel in our wedding. He had NO IDEA I was going to sing to him, and had this strange grin on his face when I started to sing, and that "deer in the headlights" look! Below are the lyrics to the song I chose to sing to him...the words are still so meaningful to me today!
There You Are
by Martina McBride
There you are in the early light of day
There you are in the quiet words I pray
I've been blessed by the simple happiness
Of the perfect love we've made
Every time I turn around
When I'm lost and when I'm found
Like an angel standing guard
There you are
Every time I take a breath and when I forget to breathe
You're watching over me there you are
When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night
Searching for the brightest star
There you are
There you are standing in a crowded room
There you are the earth and I'm the moon
My desire is to stand by the fire
That burns inside of you
Every time I turn around
When I'm lost and when I'm found
Like an angel standing guard
There you are
Every time I take a breath and when I forget to breathe
You're watching over me there you are
When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night
Searching for the brightest star
There you are
When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night
Searching for the brightest star
There you are
There you are
There you are
by Martina McBride
There you are in the early light of day
There you are in the quiet words I pray
I've been blessed by the simple happiness
Of the perfect love we've made
Every time I turn around
When I'm lost and when I'm found
Like an angel standing guard
There you are
Every time I take a breath and when I forget to breathe
You're watching over me there you are
When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night
Searching for the brightest star
There you are
There you are standing in a crowded room
There you are the earth and I'm the moon
My desire is to stand by the fire
That burns inside of you
Every time I turn around
When I'm lost and when I'm found
Like an angel standing guard
There you are
Every time I take a breath and when I forget to breathe
You're watching over me there you are
When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night
Searching for the brightest star
There you are
When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night
Searching for the brightest star
There you are
There you are
There you are
posted by Anne, 10:00 AM
2 Comments:
You have a way with words... you paint me too beautifully and yourself, not well enough. I love you and wouldn't trade a day that we have had together.
Happy 9, going on 10!!
--Nathaniel
Happy 9, going on 10!!
--Nathaniel
Happy Anniversary! Beautiful post, beautiful couple!
