Today is my 9th wedding anniversary! I wanted to take some time to brag on my hubby because I am sort of proud of him...or something like that;) I will never forget the first time I saw my husband. My Dad was the youth pastor at our small, intimate little church in Deer Park, Washington where I grew up. It was the kind of town where you know everyone and everyone knows you:) It was the same for the church we were involved with--and if you were new, you stuck out like a sore thumb. My husband's family decided to come to our church that particular morning to try it out--complete with their large family in tow. I instantly noticed them. I sat towards the back of the church, as I did a lot of the time with some of my friends. I observed through the worship service this new family and how they interacted with one another. How they entered into worship. How his dad looked at his mom. I instantly admired the family's dynamic. The memory is etched in my mind. Another moment I will never forget is the moment I first knew I loved Luke. We had been "officially" dating for a few weeks (although we had known each other for a couple years by this point, and were friends before that, but that story is for another day) and he had just picked me up from my house, we were planning on having dinner with his family. I watched him walk through the door ahead of me and he leaned over and kissed his mom on the cheek. At that exact moment, it was like I just knew. I knew I couldn't stand a life without this man. I thought of the remarkable father he would be. I thought of the loyal & loving husband he would be to me. And I knew. Things took a turn for me that day. It didn't hurt that he was and is devastatingly good looking:) The rest was history...
Thinking back on those memories, I cannot help but smile a BIG dorky smile from ear to ear. God is so faithful and I am so thankful to have Luke. To be his forever wife. He is a remarkable father. He will often come home from work exhausted, and still lay on the ground and wrestle the kids, lather them in kisses and help me put them to bed. Praying with them and for them. Praying while he is at work. His capacity for patience is unending. He is everything and more than what I thought he would be in a husband. Gentle, honest, loving. He gets up with the kids every morning and lets me sleep as long as I can, he makes sure I am getting enough time for myself, he has never left me worrying about how I or the kids will be taken care of. He is driven, motivated and a go-getter. His sense of humor is its own topic. I have never laughed so hard or had so much fun doing such mundane things. He makes life fun! I could go on and on--he is the full package deal (why did I feel inappropriate saying that?). Do we get in bad arguments? Yep! Do we go through days without being happy with the other person? Yep again. Do we disagree with each other? Often! B-U-T, at the end of the day, I know Luke's commitment level is 100%, as is mine. I am secure in that. I know that when we both said "I do", we meant until the very end. That comes with all the fights, agitation, irritability, annoyances, etc. Marriage is such a rich thing. It is hard work. But, the stock you put in the other person as you grow, learn and apologize (a lot) pays off. You get the return on your investment. Luke is such an amazing man, who has overcome some very big "mountains" in his life. Do I ever hear him complain about these obstacles? Never. He just fights. Never quits, and works hard. I feel so lucky that I get to call him mine.
Happy 9th Anniversary, babe. I love you so very very much.
