The Story of Us.
It was 1985 and I was a young 17-year-old girl fresh out of high and school standing on the edge of this amazing, exciting, journey called life. The great adventure had begun.
Who’d of known you’d be permanently woven into my story that summer? Who’d of known that the friendship that was born that warm August in 1985 would blossom into a life together? Who’d of known that our union would produce three of the finest humans? Who’d of known we’d embark on a life of ministry and shepherding? Who’d of known?
On this day, 31 years ago, two naive, giddy, love-struck kids stood before many family and friends and said “I will”. I don’t think we fully understood the charge that went along with those two words. How could we? We were young and ignorant and although we had dated for 5 years, we really knew nothing.
For nearly three years the story of us was just that, us. Me and you. And then, a new chapter began, and together, we were on one wild ride. One-by-one they came. Three beautiful sons. I am still in awe that God chose us as the main ingredient in creating 3 of the best people I know.
Life got different really fast. The story of us was expanding. The story of us was evolving. The story of us included more than just us. We became a family.
Diapers, and formula, quickly turned to many years of baseball, soccer, basketball, swimming, water-polo, track, and cross country. Living life in the stands cheering on our boys was our joy and we savored every moment and didn’t want it to end.
Choir, plays, drama, school, homework, camp, church, vacations, family night, parties, proms and the endless activities our three driven boys embraced, we were right there with them, together. Together we fought for those boys. Together we agonized in prayer for their lives. Together we disciplined. We cried. We laughed. We celebrated. We walked with them in their messes and we cheered them into victory. We mourned. We struggled. We achieved. And we did this together. Us. You and me.
We worked hard together, you and I, with so many common goals. We sent them to college and poured all we had into them. We watched them conquer the Goliaths that stood in their way. We watched them become God-fearing men determined for the cause of Christ. We watched two of them get married, and we welcomed two beautifully wonderful daughters into our lives. We watched all three become professionals and buy homes. We watched them move out. As painful as it was, we watched them do what we raised them to do. We watched them leave.
And just like that, 31 years later, it is back to us and our story continues. A new chapter has begun. A new chapter and yet, the two main characters in this story have dramatically changed. A new chapter of us. We are different. We’ve morphed in to two very different people than those young kids who almost seem unrecognizable. We have less hair and fuller waists. There’s lines on our faces and gray hair that we earned together. We aren’t those ignorant kids who stood at that alter all starry-eyed thinking we knew it all. We are much wiser. We are stronger. We are us.
So, this year, it’s officially back to me and you. Two very different people than we once were. Two people, once again, standing on the edge of a new adventure. I’m sure somewhere along the way it will include grandchildren, maybe retirement, probably some pain, suffering and struggle, but we’ve done that before and God has faithfully brought us through. More of this crazy, wild ride called marriage we get to live out together for better and worse, as us.
Who’d of known the life we’d build. All the endless turns and twists, sorrows and losses, victories and defeats. All the laughter and tears. All of the challenges, hard times, and amazing times. All in this wonderfully ordained story called “Us”.
Happy 31st anniversary to us! To be continued…….