23 Years

Mark 10:8"....and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. "

Today marks mine and Matt's 23rd wedding anniversary.  We have spent over half our lives together.  We were merely teenagers when we met back in college.  When I think about our time together, it's this picture that Lily Grace took of us in MT that sums us up.  Matt and I had no idea she had taken it until she shared it later in the day.  Matt had come out to help me wade back to shore as I had gotten a little "stuck" in the current.  This picture is so representative of  marriage.  Sometimes we get stuck, and can easily get swept up in the current of day to day life, but I know that Matt is always there for me and I him, no matter how big or small.  It's being able to count on each other and being vulnerable in front of one another that makes us stronger and truly one flesh.  We have seen and been through a lot over 23 years and thanks be to God, we are more in love today than the day we met and so blessed by each other. We have grown in our faith, in offering forgiveness, in saying I'm sorry, in learning not to worry about the small stuff,  in what's truly important, in love, as parents and as a couple. We aren't perfect by any means, just getting better as we tack on the years together.  
Gracie often talks of when she gets married one day and it really fills my heart with joy to hear her talk about how she sees Matt and I as a married couple and how it's what she seeks.  *On a funny note, Gracie and I had gotten Matt cards for his birthday in July.  She asked if she could read what I had written inside my card.  I told her that she could.  After reading it, she asked if she could save that card after her daddy's birthday.  I was curious about why and she informed me that she would like to put that up and write that same thing to her husband. She said that it was so sweet and so good that she wouldn't have to put any thought into the one she wrote her own husband.  First it touched me that she could read the heartfelt sentiment in what I had written.  I was also happy that she could see the love between her daddy and I and that she had that example of love and marriage.  However, it gave Matt and I quite the laugh at how she thought it would be good enough to just "pass along" to her own husband.  That poor man!  No worries, I have already started praying for him, whomever God may send along for her. 
Special thanks to you Gracie for this very sweet picture, what a beautiful surprise!  I adore this picture and daddy and I love you to pieces.
Thank you God for the blessing of our marriage and for the examples of unconditional love that you have given us throughout the ages.  Gracious Lord, please continue to bless our marriage and guide us as the head of our lives together.