Happy 8th Anniversary to Us!

I spent most of the day taking care of two sick kids. (Jude has RSV and Addy has a cold, but both are getting better). So, we didn’t get the date we had wanted for our anniversary. I was disappointed & to be honest, I was a total grump about it. Then God gave me a good slap & reminded me of all that I DID get.

1. This morning, I got to hear Addy run in the room yelling “Daddy!” because she was so excited to see Nick.

2. I got to watch The Sound of Music with Addy and see her dance & sing with the Von Trapp kids. Then she whooped me in a game of Uno Moo.

3. I got to watch Nick read a bedtime story and our nightly devotion with both kids in Addy’s new tent and hear him pray and sing with them.

4. I got to see Nick make Jude laugh one of his first laughs.

I say these things not to portray that we have the perfect family with no struggles. 2015 was an incredibly tough year- the loss of two grandfathers, two miscarriages, almost losing Jude, (birth story & update on him to come!) and Addy’s surgery. Also, we lost a car, our air conditioning, refrigerator, and have had some other private family storms.

I say these things because today as I reflected on the past year, God reminded me of the commitment that Nick and I made to each other 8 years ago- we vowed to love each other in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer and for better or worse. I vowed to allow my husband to be the spiritual leader of our family and we committed to raise our children in a godly home, pointing our kids to Jesus. On January 5, 2008, fulfilling those commitments was something we could only dream about. But today, I was able to celebrate my anniversary in the best possible way. I watched my family- the family that began 8 years ago.