A lot can happen in six years, and boy, it sure has! God has been more than gracious to us in our marriage with Him & each other. The first couple years were definitely rocky, to say the least. And if you have been attending Josh's marriage class at Redemption Church, you know most of this story already. To abbreviate, I moved to join him in VA, 800 miles away from all of my family & friends... to a place where I knew no one & knew how to get no where! With Josh going to seminary full-time during the morning hours & working full-time during the afternoon & evening, I didn't have much company. This already busy schedule partnered with taking on several responsibilities at church. All good things, don't get me wrong! But, selfishly, I wanted them all to go away. I soon got a job of my own, which helped me stay busy, but still I felt I hardly got to see my husband... which usually ended up in fights. Because I wanted to see him more and couldn't - which didn't thrill me - the little time I did have with him, I wasted on meaningless arguments... arguments about how I never got to see him! Now, I must say - it wasn't like this all the time! We did have many, many sweet, great & wonderful days! But, our picture of biblical marriage was still very skewed.
Two years into marriage, he graduated from seminary & we bought a house. That fall, we decided his second-shift job at the bank was providing financially, but not biblically (in a sense). So, he switched gears from a Financial Manager to a Christian School Bible Teacher. Pay decrease? Yep! Worth it? TOTALLY! God really began to teach us (while attending at the time Bible Believers Church - now, Redemption) what marriage really is. That it really wasn't about us. Nothing about it was. What?! Um.. what?! That's right! So, not about me.. okay.. But, instead that marriage is about God and for God! We have been so blessed to have couples at RC demonstrate and teach biblical manhood & womanhood to us, to show how when united, the gospel can shine forth! During this time Josh became one of the pastors at RC.
Four years later, we are still learning every day, but so thankful for His grace & unchanging love for us. I am amazed how God works! Who knew the early days of bickering could turn into a sweet testimony of His grace while Josh teaches a class on marriage! He truly has taught us so much about marriage through the work of His Son! Since marriage really is a reflection of the gospel! He is the ultimate example AND the ultimate prize! Not each other! Same is true with our newest family edition...
The summer after our fifth anniversary (actually, the morning after my birthday), we found out we were expecting! SO overjoyed & thankful (& filled with every other emotion in the book), we planned a fast weekend trip to MI to surprise the parents' with our news! So, as the story goes, the belly grew & grew, and sure enough! The following April, we welcomed our little boy, Elijah Gray into this world! What a blessing! Recovery was a trip to say the least, but through that time, God used it to show me His love in a very real way! What Jesus went through, was much greater! And He did it for me! Now, I can display that love to my little, sweet boy. Four months now, and he's such a joy! More and more each day! We so love to watch his little personality develop & are so thankful for the privilege of parenthood.
Since that time, I have moved away from my role as a medical receptionist into the role of a full-time mommy! I gotta say, it's a pretty crazy thing, but I'm lovin' every moment! Josh also made another job change to work at a shipping/trucking company to help with the loss of my job... well, my pre-baby one! *wink* He is in his fourth week and every day gets better. The crazy chaos that is the trucking industry, he is actually catching on to! ...and enjoying it more and more. I sit dumbfounded pretty much every day as he gets home and begins to describe his day at work! He comes home and says, "I know I told you yesterday was crazy, but wait until you hear what happened today!" Makes for an exciting story time! We are thankful, thankful, thankful! And that's basically all I gotta say!
In reference to the engagement story:
P.S. I was going to entitle this: six, six, six - but, decided against that! :)
P.P.S. The sweet gift that was given was a fish tank! & the ring was laying on the steps to a castle inside (just in case there was any confusion on the above description!)! Pretty clever "sunken treasure"!
P.P.S.S. Pics to come, of course!
Loved the story - you write so well! I'll be sure to add your blog to my reader. I'm looking forward to what else you put up!
Hey! Yay for blogging! Ditto to Katie's compliment on your writing...and I've added you to my reader as well. :)