YOU "ADMIARE" HER

Yesterday (March 20) Eric & I celebrated 11 years of wedded bliss. Okay, well it hasn't always been blissful, but I can honestly say that we love each other more today than we did last year and the year before and the year before... God has been good to us and we are thankful!

We received many wonderful cards from family and friends, as well as exchanging special ones with each other. But our favorite anniversary cards this year came from Avery. They came in special (homemade) envelopes, addressed "To Mommy" and "To Daddy". She gave them both to me early in the day but instructed me that we were to open them together.

We did open them at the same time, but we read Eric's card first. In addition to anniversary greetings, Avery used Daisy & Donald Duck to symbolize me and Eric. On this card, Avery says, "You admiare her" and "You are a perfect pair". Daisy also seems to be reminiscing of a bride and groom on their wedding day :)

My card showed us represented as Pluto and Mickey, "perfect pals". "You go together!!"

It is hard to describe how much these cards mean to us. Not just because they're so cute, but because we are honored and humbled at the way that Avery views us in our marriage. We are not perfect or even always pals. And sometimes it's hard to admire each other when we see each other's faults and shortcomings daily. But God knew that we should "go together" and that, through His power and grace, we could choose to love each other and grow in ways that we couldn't have grown on our own. Marriage is hard. And I am glad that the first decade is behind us. But I can't wait to see what God has in store for us in the years to come!

"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female'. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Mark 10:7-9

"But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man.' For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Genesis 2:20-24