7 Years today

I would like to tell you that was our beautiful wedding cake 7 years ago but the truth is it was actually a friends from a few months ago. A beautiful wedding it was with all of the flowers, brides maids and music. Thinking back to October 6 2000 where we said our "I dos" it was a little less romantic as we stood in Expresso's grandmothers living room in front of the fireplace surrounded by friends and family who I am sure were filled with the lingering thought of "is this going to last". It was crowded to say the least being a single wide trailer. I remember getting ready, trying to get pretty for my soon to be husband but feeling it was a hopeless cause being swollen and 9 months pregnant! Yes, 9 months pregnant with Superman. Obviously neither of us knew the Lord at that time. Standing at the door together about to face all of the people and our fate we asked eachother "Are you ready?" Ready for what? We had no idea!! We both look at where we are now and are just amazed at what God has done in our marriage. The grace that He has poured down on us as we have walked through these 7 years. I am certain we are only together today because of God, there is no way we could have made it with out him especially in the first 3 years. There were so many times we said we couldn't do it and yet we did, said we were leaving and yet stayed, said we hated eachother and yet continued to love.... why? why didn't we follow through? The power of the devil tried to not only reign within our marriage but overtake it but... and I LOVE that but... God had His protective hand holding us up from his snares. You see we were His, yet we didn't know it, He loved us but didn't know it, He had mighty plans for us but we didn't know it and He told us... I will never leave you nor forsake you but we couldn't hear Him. Now 7 years later we are serving Him as we daily try to understand His will for our life and desperately try to yeild to where He leads us. It is good to be a child of the King, not easy, but good.

I remember the day he met my parents. I can not tell you how nervous I was! Pacing through out my house constantly checking the door anxiously waiting for him to drive up my driveway. He made a good impression :0). He is an amazing man and I thank God daily for giving him to me. I have not the words to express the love that my heart holds for him... for it can not be measured and reaches far beyond where even I can not feel but here is a poem that forever comes close....

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I lvoe thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,-I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life!-and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Sonnets from the Portuguese, XLIII

Elizabeth Barrett Brownining