9th Anniversary

Friday, October 19th, was our 9th anniversary. In light of my last post, I am sure you can understand how our plans to celebrate got postponed. With both Aaron and Austin so ill, we decided to wait until next week to attempt a date night. So we got to "celebrate" with two toddlers in two. Aaron had class in the evening, so we went out for a quick lunch as a family. It was comical at best! Our conversation as we reflected about our wedding day was consistently interupted with "why", "what do you mean", "what are you talking about". How do you explain an anniversary to a 2 and 3 year old? Oh, and the scene as we exchanged gifts...As I tried to read the incredibly thoughtful card from my sweet hubby this is what I heard. "Momma - open the box. I want to see what's inside. I think it's chocolate. Is it chocolate? Open it momma. Can I eat it?" Over and over and over and over again! By the time Aaron was opening his, they were over it and loud animal roars and ribbits and such were coming from the table. We couldn't help but laugh! This is our life now and we wouldn't trade it for the world! Those little "distractions" are a fruit of the love we share and the committment we made to one another 9 years ago. Our world is incredibly joyfilled and colorful with their presence.  Yes, we look forward to a quiet evening alone to truly celebrate, but Friday was just perfect the way it was.

What an incredible 9 years it's been. I want to journey through them. Join me if you will :)

October 2003 - Markham Woods Road, Lake Mary FL
We were united as one and lived in a 100 year old furnished little house which was orignally Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church. It was a perfect home for a newly wed couple preparing to leave the country as missionaries! We share such sweet memories here of learning to be husband and wife and delighting in an extended honeymoon!

January 2004-November 2005 - Fortaleza Brazil
We lived in two different apartments here. Our time in Fortaleza working with Campus Crusade for Christ was incredible. We sharpened one another as we labored together for God's Kingdom. We experienced deep fellowship with our staff team and endured many challenges together. Most of all we saw God's hand of faithfulness as we experienced being one in marriage and even in ministry!

December 2005- August 2011 - Arlington TX
Our home was the Franciscan of Arlington where we got to minister as actual employees of the apartment complex as activity directors. It was a perfect fit for us. We loved every minute of gathering our community and developing relationships with them. We got to develop stronger bonds of friendship with our family during our time in Arlington. We both worked in our secular professions. Aaron excelled greatly as labored both for City of Grand Praire and City of Arlington. I stopped working for Big Brothers Big Sisters to be a momma to our first son Austin. We barely blinked, and were expecting another little man, Jonathan. Becoming parents in every essence unified us. Aaron supported me in an incredible way through pregancy and child birth. We experienced God's strength and power as He brought our boys into the world. Also in our time in Texas, we grew deep roots in our home church First Baptist Arlington. As members in that body, we are well loved and invested in. In every aspect, we are listened to, supported, and sharpened to pursue whatever God had before us. Which lead us to gradschool!

August 2011-July 2012 - Morningside Heights Manhattan, NYC
Unexpected joy met us in New York City! It was as if we were the missing piece of a puzzle to a life that needed to be lived. There was no "transition" per say. We immediately found and incredible community through Trinity Grace Church. Friendships came very easily in the most unexpected ways. Our neighborhood was incredible. We had a plethera of choices of playgrounds to choose that were within walking distance. Aaron recieved an incredible education. Yes, it was a challenge to be a family of four with kids as toddlers in one of the most difficult universities. But it was well worth it.

July 2012- Now - Sao Paulo, Brazil
Yup - as it life wasn't crazy enough. Why not pack up your two year old and three year old and move internationally to complete the second year of grad school!?! The transition was for sure slower in the making here in Sao Paulo. But many gifts have come from it. For starters we have grown more hungry for God, His Vision, and His strength. Our boys have become best buddies. Since they don't have the wide community of peer friendship as in Texas and New York, it has fortified their friendship. They miss one another when they are away, and they have learned to have a blast playing together! Likewise Aaron had I have grown a deeper friendship with one another. We continue to delight in pursuing adventure together. We lean into what God has for us next. Though it still remains a minstery, we are enjoying standing at the Throne shoulder to shoulder asking God for His direction!

What an incredible 9 years! The memories overwhelm me with joy. Psalm 77:11 says, "Remember the works for the Lord. Remember His wonders of long ago". It is so important to stop to look back at how incredible the journey has been. Very early in our relationship, I told Aaron it was an honor that he would pursue a relationship with me. 9 years into marriage, that is no different. My husband is an incredibly capable, God-fearing man. Everything he puts his hands on, he does so in pursuit of excellence. He is a loving husband who strives each day to demonstrate his love for me in a way that I will comprehend. He is an amazing daddy who invests deeply in the lives of his boys. He enjoys and pursues family time. He is a visionary with big dreams of how God's hand can impact this world for good. Yes, the adventure at his side is WILD to say the least. But it is an incredible honor to be the woman he's chosen to pursue adventure with!