6 Years Ago Today…

Six years ago today, I stood in the church we grew up in and among 257 of our family and friends spoke these words and this covenant over our lives…

I love you
By the Power of Christ Jesus
My Savior
This covenant I make
Unconditionally…without end.
Jesse … I promise to respect you,
To protect our home,
To pray with you,
And to faithfully seek
Your fullest joy.
I promise to unbreakably
Protect our marriage.
Trusting always
In Christ Jesus first.
I promise to nurture
Our life together
Through storm or calm
Sacrifice or rest
Testing or victory
I humbly
Prayerfully
Surrender my life to you
To God be the Glory
(Our Wedding Vows)

(this was the best wedding picture I could find... it was before digital)

Today, I speak this covenant over our lives again and declare my promise to you as your wife. I am amazed at how far God has brought us and thank Him for His faithfulness in our lives; because without Him this covenant would no longer exist. This past year has been a humbling and sacred time for me and I have been blown away by not only the marital growth in us, but also the personal growth in you my husband. I find myself falling more in love with you each and everyday and love how we are constantly finding new and fun things about one another, even after twelve years.

This past year has been such a healing time for us and though I am far from perfect and often times say “stupid things,” I will continue to do my best to honor and respect you! I am so proud of all you do to provide for our family daily and so humbled at how quick you are to put our needs above your own. You are an amazing husband who never forgets to kiss me and remind me daily of how beautiful I am even when I am make-up-less and feel like such a fatty. Also, you are an wonderful cook, my dear!

I also couldn’t have hand selected a better father for my children. You are devoted and loving and always seem to be the one adult playing with the kids. I LOVE THAT! You are an amazing daddy and I can’t wait to see how our children turn out with such an amazing example like you. With all we have learned in this short time of being married, I feel that we will have so many more opportunities to speak into our children and teach them what a covenant truely is. I want us to be great examples of that!

My love, you are my best friend, my partner, my prince, my rock, my protector, but most of all the one I want to spend my life with and grow old with. Marriage is never easy and I know life will always have its ups and downs, but just as long as we keep God as our focus and continue to choose to love and respect one another we will never cease to grow closer together.

I love you more than you know!

Happy Anniversary!