18 and counting. . . .

The Hubs and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary on Monday.
18 years that have flown by so quickly, that I feel like I've blinked and the years were gone. How does that happen? Days that can seem to drag by but years that are suddenly gone?

We were such babies when we were married. I had just turned 20 when this handsome Airman came and stole my heart. Our first date was on Aug. 31 and we were engaged on Sept. 13th. Yes, of the same year.
Sounds romantic doesn't it?? And in so many ways it was!
We were to young and stupid to be scared senseless!

A boy who had come from a background of dysfunction and alcoholism and a girl who didn't think she might just disappoint but that at her core was a disappointment.( I have no idea where that come from either. Great parents who loved each other, grew up in the church and loving Jesus. But, I have always struggled with that emotion. Did not really gain any victory in that area until my late 20's early 30's.)

So, with all the baggage the two of us set out on this journey of life together.
I could lie and say it's been all sunshine and roses. Romance every night and that we never argue. But, that would totally be a lie.
But, the true part - that part that is laid open and bare would say that it hasn't always been easy, but it's always been worth it!
The hubs and I have dealt with the loss of dear loved ones, infertility, military deployments, financial struggles, children with some serious medical issues and some pretty deep wounds of childhood which often leads a person to some pits of sin.
In the midst of all that, I can truly say that the good has out weighed the bad, that the happy has been more than the sad. And that I cannot imagine walking through this life journey with any one other than the Hubs!
God grace has been so real and evident. He has loved us where we were and carried us through some significant storms. But, through the storms of life, He has been there!

When people ask us, how we do it ( because sadly 18 years is a long time these days) I can only say, the same as everyone else-By the grace of God.
God created the first family, knew the conflicts that would arise, yet out of all the scenarios He could chosen, He picked a man and a women to show us His great plan of love and redemption. Knowing the pain they would cause and the conflict that would arise, He still chose the family to weave His story through.

So, Thank you, Honey for being the kind of man a women can respect and love. The kind of man who can have a tea party with his girl one day and take his boys fishing the other. Thank you, for helping me unpack baggage you didn't even realize I was carrying! For loving Jesus before the rest of us! For thinking that I can do anything I set my mind too, and never holding me back! For flowers on ordinary days, for music to sing along too and for babies that have you to call daddy! After Jesus, you are the love of my life and I cannot wait to see what the next 18 years bring!! Your kiss still gives me butterflies and I am so thankful you've chosen to love me!

And, thank you Lord, for bringing us together. For being the glue that was sticking us together when our flesh would have just walked away. For grace in the hard times. And beauty in the faces of our babies. I see your handiwork in each corner of my life and I'll never be able to say Thank You enough!