three years ago today...

three years ago today i was on my way to this church...

to primp and prepare

take care of all the little details

try and be just right for my waiting groom

with help & support from so many family & friends

we were 'ready' to become husband & wife.  for always.

 the wait, the anticipation

was finally coming to fruition.

we exchanged vows, promises, prayers & praise

i say again to you today:  i take you, ben, to be my husband, before God who brought us together; to love and respect you out of reverence for Christ. i promise to follow you as you follow the example of Jesus, serve beside you and share in this life the joys of knowing Christ. that through His grace, we may grow together into the likeness of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. ever honoring God’s guidance by His Spirit through the Word and throughout our lives I pledge to you my life as a loving and faithful wife.

we may have exchanged a kiss as well. 

in the presence of many witnesses we made a covenant with each other & the Lord to be united as one.  and have been celebrating ever since.

colossians 3:12-17

"therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. forgive as the Lord forgave you. and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. and be thankful. let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

1 john 4:7-12

"dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  this is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. no one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

benny-

i was looking at you yesterday and in our fort and you asked me if something was the matter.  i was at the brink of tears because i was [am] so incredibly thankful to have you as my husband.  it's overwhelming really.  how is it that God has so graciously saved us from so much and on top of that has blessed me beyond measure with a partner like you?  i don't deserve your sweet patience and your servant's heart.  thank you for the grace & love that you pour out to me even when i'm difficult.  thank you for growing with me, serving with me, dreaming with me and chasing after Christ with me.  [apart from grace itself] you're the best gift i've ever gotten.

i love you dearly.  happy anniversary.

j