Thursday, June 24, 2010

16 years of Blessings

 Last Friday Justin and I celebrated our 16th Wedding Anniversary.  My sweet husband took me out for a surprise date Friday afternoon which thrilled me!  I came home from retrieving kids from play practice and his truck was sitting in the drive!  Hooray!  He had arranged for "back-up" for Hannah (she is babysitting for us now, but when we leave for an extended period of time, she sometimes needs help w/ refereeing the two little ones.) and he had the movie time all picked out.  We went and saw Toy Story 3 (believe it is better than the first two!) and then came home.  You see, we had to go to Justin's parents house that evening for a family reunion the next day......I cherished those two hours we had together without any interruptions. Ahhh.....

I can't believe that we have been married for 16 years.  The time just simply goes more quickly each year.  Our time here on earth is really so short and that becomes more real to me as I grow older.  I still remember so many details of our wedding day that it really seems like yesterday!

Our marriage really does get sweeter with each passing year.  Each year we grow closer through the joys of seeing our children maturing, through trials and adversities, by working side by side on construction projects and through the reading of the scriptures and Godly books.  I am thankful for my husband who brings so much to our marriage.  He is so wise, so strong in his faith and frankly, just the best husband there is, I think.  God has given our children and myself a true gift.

I want to share a book that I have been reading which is an excellent marriage strengthening book.  It is called "Sweethearts for a Lifetime" by Wayne and Carol Mack.  It is a devotional type book with a lot of scripture and application questions.  Justin and I have read through some of it together, but lately I have been finishing it up independently since Justin has been busy w/ school papers.  I read through a chapter and then bring it up for discussion after the kids go to bed that evening.  Each section has great application questions that bring up some discussions that Justin and I may have never thought about or discussed in depth.  We highly recommend this book for any stage of marriage.  Wayne Mack has another book " Strengthening Your Marriage" which is another excellent marriage devotion/study.  We did that one as a Sunday School class study probably 10 years ago.  Check these books out, your marriage will thank you!


I am so thankful that God instituted marriage.  I can't imagine life on earth without it.  I know that some people God meant to be single, but for those He knew couldn't make it alone, I am glad and thankful that God gave us spouses.  Marriage is a beautiful picture of Christ and what he has done for us, and for that I am eternally thankful.

2 comments:

Ranch Hand said...

Congrats! I'm so grateful for people who are thankful for their marriage! It truly is a gift from the Lord. Everyday we have with our spouse is a blessing.

How sweet of your husband to suprise you! I can imagine seeing his truck in the drive took your breath away! ;-)
See you soon!
Amber

Kelsie said...

Happy Belated Anniversary!