Three years ago today,I was nervously driving to the hair salon to get my hair twisted into an up-do.  I kept double…triple checking to make sure I had everything…my makeup, shoes, jewelry…my  dress was on its way to the church with one of my bridesmaids.  I sat down at the salon and could see that I had the “bridal glow.”  I was excited….so very excited and  I was scared…so very scared.  Today was the day I became a wife.  The day my last name changed. This was the day I vowed before a church full of people “For better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health; from this day forward til death do us part.”  And vow I did…My nervousness changed to joy, pure joy.

Wedding Day

As I sit and reflect on the past 3 years I can see all the work God has done in our marriage.  We fought a lot our first year of marriage.  Maybe I should pretend it was all fairy tales and romance…but it wasn’t.  We loved each other and we had so much fun…but the immaturity was unbelievable.

1st Anniversary

Our second year of marriage was much easier.   I believe we both had the realization that we needed to grow up and their was a lot of growth.  Nothing causes maturity like a baby on the way!  Our 2nd anniversary was 2 weeks before Cora was born.

2nd Anniversary

Major Baby Belly

My mom always says, “marriage is not for the faint of heart.” She is right. For a marriage to prosper it takes a lot of hard work.  I am still new at learning this lesson. Much growth and many challenges face me in the years ahead.  One thing I do know.  I love Justin more than I loved him on August 11, 2007…more than I loved him August 11, 2008…more than I loved him August 11, 2009…more than I loved him yesterday.  I will love him more tomorrow than I did today. He is a part of me.  He is my other half.  He is my best friend.  He challenges me to be a better wife and a better mommy.  He challenges me with his character…maybe some day I will have half the patience he has and half of the good attitude he has…and half his servants heart.  After all…after three years of marriage his character should be rubbing off on me, right?

3rd Anniversary

A great Martin Luther quote I found: “God has set the type of marriage everywhere throughout the creation.  Every creature seeks its perfection in another. The very heavens and earth picture it to us.”

We are far from perfect…so very, very far!  If you even knew the ogre of a wife I can be.  He gets to see the true ugliness of who I am. The fact that Justin still loves me is proof that God ordained this marriage.   I do hope and pray that as we continue to live on this earth and  as our family grows…as we age, that together we will be refined…conquering our biggest sins.  That together we will become sanctified.  That we will raise our children to love Him. That we will love others well and that we will love each other well.

Justin, I love you.  Thank you for working hard to provide for our little family, thank you for making this house ring with laughter, thank you for being the best husband and daddy.  Happy Anniversary!

“When I have learned to love God better than my earthly dearest, then I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.”-C.S. Lewis

A few months ago the very talented Sam Griffin ( http://samgriffin.zenfolio.com) took some pictures of Cora.  I thought I would share some of my favorites with you…although there are so many I love, it’s hard to choose!

Well, this post was going to be just pictures.  But I have to write…I have to get some thoughts out of my system.  Bare with me…

Lately I have been feeling tired.  I know I say this a lot.  I don’t mean to complain.  I have come to realize this is motherhood.  It’s tiring.  I see pictures of myself a few years ago and I think, “who is that girl?”  I look so young and carefree.  No dark circles under my eyes, no stress…a more youthful body.  I look like a girl not a woman.

I always wanted to be a wife and then a mother…no dreams of being anything else.  When God brought Justin into my life these dreams became a reality.  I became his wife in less then a year…two years later we had a baby.  We are a family.

I look at pictures of myself a couple years ago…I might have  looked better but I can honestly say  I did not feel better.  I see a very selfish 22  year old.  I did not love my husband like I do today…and I certainly had not learned to live daily serving a little person. I served myself.  When God brought Cora into my world there was a time when everything seemed to come crashing down around me.  All of the sudden my easy little life ended.  In one day I became a mother…the one to feed, comfort, change, clean, stay up for hours at night, love and care for my baby.  Inside I was fighting the breaking of many bad habits…it hurt too much to have to grow up. My plan was to be a mom…but it was not my plan to have to change!  It humors me now to realize how clueless I was.  But God is good…he works wonders…miracles in our hearts.  In no time I had adjusted to being a wife and mother.  There were and still are days where I want to throw up my hands, admit defeat…but my love for Cora grows every day as does my patience.  I thank God for her…I was not owed her.  She is a gift.  My love and respect  for Justin has grown.  I loved him when we met…but now?  There is not a better man in the world.  He is a gift as well.  Yes, God is good!

I look forward to seeing how much growth there is 10, 20 years down the road…I have full confidence that God will continue to mold me and work in this little family.  The breaking and the maturing is always hard but the reward is worth it.

Andrew Peterson is one of my favorite Christian artists.  He may have a nasal voice…but the passion with which he sings!  Many nights in college I fell asleep listening to his music.  When my brother Tim became a daddy, I remember thinking this song was perfect for him.  Now I think it’s perfect for Justin and I…and will only ring more true as our family grows.

Family Man

I am a family man
I traded in my mustang for a minivan
This is not what I was headed for when I began
This was not my plan
I am a family man

But everything I had to lose
Came back a thousand times in you
And you fill me up with love
Fill me up with love
And you help me stand
’cause I am a family man

And life is good
That’s something I always knew
But I just never understood
If you’d asked me then you know I’d say I never would
Settle down in a neighborhood
I never thought I could

But I don’t remember anymore
Who I even was before
You filled me up with love
Filled me up with love
And you help me stand

So come on with the thunder clouds
Let the cold wind rail against us, let the rain come down
We can build a roof above us with the love we’ve found
We can stand our ground
So let the rain come down

Because love binds up what breaks in two
So keep my heart so close to you
And I’ll fill you up with love
Fill you up with love
And I’ll help you stand
‘Cause I am a family man

I’m saving my vacation time
For Disneyland
This is not what I was headed for when I began
This was not my plan
It’s so much better than

Happy Father’s Day to Justin, Cora’s beloved “dadada.”  She could not have a better daddy.  We are blessed to have him as the head of this household.  I’m so glad I have him as my teammate in raising our child.

Every morning he gets her out of her crib and changes her diaper…amid her “I want my breakfast bottle” shrieks.  Every evening after a long day at work he gives her his undivided attention.  Every night he bathes her and changes her into her p.j.s amid her “I want my bedtime bottle” shrieks.  He is a good, kind, and loving daddy. He is so proud of his little girl.

We love you Dada.  Happy Father’s Day!

“No man can possibly know what life means, what the world means, until he has a child and loves it.  And the whole universe changes and nothing will ever seem exactly the same as it seemed before.”

And, Happy Father’s Day to my own dad.  A man who loved me well.  A man who taught me from a young age my need for my Father in heaven.  A man who read the bible to us and prayed for us every day.   Who entertained us constantly with his humor, who always brought us sweets…who enjoyed shopping.  A man who put up with three emotional and often crying daughters.  A father who is also a wonderful Beba.  We love you!

“Being a parent is a high and holy calling.  There is no more demanding occupation.  The best of parents are utterly dependent on the Holy Spirit to make it “click” with their children.  That is why a parent’s greatest resource is prayer.”

Tomorrow another dear friend of mine gets married.  She happens to be marrying a boy that Justin grew up with.  What are the chances?  I like the way God works.  I know I benefit from this marriage as it ensures my friend will always be in my life.

Emilie is a wonderful woman.  She is practically a sister to me.  I have watched her wait for the right man to come along…and from the first date it was obvious…She and Perrin were meant to be.  They are a sweet, sweet couple.  I cannot wait to see what God has in their future!  We love you two.  We cannot wait to celebrate your wedding day.  We are praying for you.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

I finally have time to post.  It’s way too late for me to be writing anything.  I apologize in advance.  This past week was insane and May is only going to continue in its craziness.  We have lots of people visiting towards the end of the month, two more weddings, (one of which I am in..can’t wait Em!), and then Cora and I fly to Canada.  So, if I am not a very good blogger these next couple weeks, you know why!

Victoria and Daniels wedding was beautiful.    They had their dads marry them as they are both pastors.  Victoria’s dad preached a message that any married couple needs to hear.  He quoted G.K. Chestertons famous response to the Times article on what is wrong with the world.  His reply was simply:  “Dear Sirs, I am.  Sincerely Yours, G.K. Chesterton.”  Her dad reminded them that is marriage one must reflect on self and sin.  Our first action is to blame our spouse when we are having problems…not to look in our own heart and see all the sin that lies within. Not your usual feel good wedding message but words of truth.  Something we all need to hear!

Here are some pictures from their beautiful day.

Tomorrow.  Tomorrow, a dear friend of mine gets married.  This woman has waited a long time for this man.  She is a wonderful person…the kind of girl that many men have pursued but she kept waiting.  Waiting for a man who would love her and lead her in God’s truths.  This woman has had her parents prayers surrounding her and protecting her.  She has been unwavering in her commitment to the Lord.  And now I have the honor or witnessing her marriage.

Am I crazy to tear up?  Since being married myself, since having Cora…every celebration, ever joy in life makes me cry.  Tears of joy.

Victoria, may God bless you and Daniel. We love you.

“So they are not longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no human being separate.” -Mark 10:8-9

“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” -Song of Solomon 8:7

Today is a very special day… today, the person who makes me laugh the most, the person who listens to me the most, the person who calms my fears, puts up with my moods, loves me well…the person who loves Cora with all his heart, the person who I think is ridiculously good looking, the person who said I was beautiful with my postpartum spare tire…the person who brings me Chick-Fil-A during my once a month cravings…today my amazing husband turns 30!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN!

Glad that you’re always 5 years ahead of me…I’ll always feel young, thanks to you. (it’s OK if I was in middle school when you started college)

Cora and I: We love you.

And now, today the person who most likely held me the most (after my parents), changed my diaper the most (after my parents), let me boss him around, always gave me my hearts desire…never forgets a birthday, is a fount of knowledge…knows more information then any human being I know…eats unbelievable amounts of food, is the most loyal and kind son, brother and Uncle…Andrew is 37 years old today.

Happy Birthday Andrew!

We love you.

Because I cannot think of what to write and because I did so much wedding talk this weekend, I thought I would share with you pictures from our big day.  I can hardly believe our wedding was already 2.5 years ago!  One of my engaged friends mentioned that you take wedding pictures with you forever and it’s true.  It would be untruthful to say I look at them often but when I do I smile.  Everything about our wedding was done on a tight budget yet it was beautiful.  I do love any and all pictures from that hot and humid August day!

The bridesmaids dresses were simple and classic…from White House Black Market.

They stole the show.  Isn’t this the sweetest picture?

I love this.  Everything about it.

Lovely bridesmaids.

After we were married we took a little break before the pictures resumed.

Yes I know, massive wedding party!

This picture is us. In a nutshell.

Classic.

Our photographer captured some great candid shots. The flowers surrounding the cake were the bridesmaids bouquets…arranged by my talented sister-in-law.

The Porsche 911 that we left in.  Warning to any future bride.  Do NOT let your new husband drive his dream car post wedding.  He will be more excited about the car than you and will drive at hazardous speeds.

The End.

There are many reasons I love my husband but like I have said many times…one of the greatest reasons is because, he makes me laugh.  He makes me laugh every day. No matter how grumpy I might be he can make me collapse into giggles.  As far as I am concerned…he is the funniest person I know.

Last year Justin went to have his annual eye exam.  Because they dilated his eyes he needed to wear plastic shade inserts underneath his glasses.  On his drive back to work he discovered something…he was no longer bothered by the sun’s glare. He came home that night excited with his discovery…and promptly grabbed some scissors and trimmed his plastic shades to match the size of his glasses.  Now they worked to perfection…as a home made pair of “sunglasses”.  And I kid you not, my husband wore his “sunglasses” the entire summer, until one day they vanished.

Last night as I was in our bedroom and I spied these laying on the bedside table. I started giggling remembering last summer.  Justin quickly informed me that his “shades” are no joke.  He was happy he had found them and would be wearing them tomorrow. Sure enough, off he went to work this morning…plastic inserts in hand.  I called him to see how the “sunglasses” were suiting him.  He said other than a minor scratch on his face (caused by the sharp plastic corners) his ride was lovely…not a bit of sun glare.

Justin and I were able to go on an early Valentine’s date this weekend.  We had so much fun.  There is no one in this world that makes me laugh like my husband…

We though we would capture some pictures of the two of us.  They were almost all bad.  Why? Cause we were laughing and that’s a good reason for some bad pictures. Here were are cracking up as the camera snaps our picture.

Our second attempt…Justin is trying so hard not to laugh he looks like he’s had the worst night of his life.

Finally we have a somewhat normal picture.

Another reason I love my husband?  Because of this…