I married David! It is so hard to believe that our humble, little wedding was 9 years ago today. I look back at how young we were (and even still are!) and think we must have been crazy! We were both so idealistic and full of unrealistic expectations. In my mind, we were going to have lovely dinners together every night (which were to be prepared together, as we were both working) while we shared our every thought from the day, we were going to spend every waking minute together, and of course, we were never going to fight.
Let's just say that first year of marraige was a little hairy. Our arguments ranged from Justin's boat to frisbee golf to twix bars and budgets to contacts and everything in between. Yet as I look back, I wouldn't change a thing. It has been such a joy to "grow up" with my very best friend. I'm so thankful that when I, at 16 years old and very naive, told him I could see us getting married, he didn't go running like most 18 year old guys would have done. (And what were my parents thinking letting me date an 18 year old, anyway?) I love that after we'd been dating for only a few months how he prayed that the Lord would let me one day be his wife. (A prayer I didn't know about until years later.)
While we still have our share of petty little arguments, there is no doubt in my mind that I am loved unconditionally by this man. I am so thankful to be under his shower of prayers and while I may not always know it at the time, I always welcome his spiritual guidance - he is truely a man after God's own heart.
It's also been fun to see David become a Daddy. As an only child, he had pretty much no experience (or interest for that matter) with babies and young children. I look back to the day Abigail was born and remember the akwardness with which he changed her first diaper. By the time Anna came, he had much more confidence. As the years have passed, he has become even more hands-on. The three of them even took their very first, highly anticipated, camping trip a couple of months ago and the girls are already planning the next one. Those three share a world of silliness that I at times cannot understand. (And that is just fine with me!)
Even with my rather unrealistic expectations for our marraige, I can honestly say that David has far exceeded them all - in ways I never imagined. I thought I knew what I wanted, but the Lord knew better. So David, thank you for 9 wonderful, fruitful, supportive, loving, happy (and let's not forget flesh-killing!) years. I look forward to many more!
(For the record, blogger is listing this post as being published on May 6th. Not too sure why. I published it on May 22, our actual anniversary.)