10 years ago...

Some called us crazy. Others said it wouldn't last. (Wait, does this sound like a song?) Yes, it's true. Ten years ago today I, a 19 year old bride, said I do to the most wonderful (23 year old) man in the world. Were we crazy? Probably. 19 doesn't look nearly as old as it did back then. But here we are a decade later, and I have absolutely no doubt we're in this thing till the end.

Our wedding day,
July 1, 2000

Our life together has definitely taken some twists and turns, some planned and others unexpected. I've heard it said that if you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans for the future. Well, I'm sure He's had a great big chuckle over me. I always thought we would have moved somewhere more exotic, that we'd have uber-cool careers, and be world travelers. I guess we're 1 for 3. We've definitely done our share of traveling, though not all of it has been recreational based. We still live in the same zip code I grew up in, and as for uber cool careers? I guess it's up to how you define cool. Ten years ago I would have said that for me it involves wearing a suit, working in a high rise building, and being so important you'd get called anytime, day or night.

My college graduation,
May 2004

You know what I learned? My mistake was thinking that this life was all about us. Because it's not. God has much more planned for us, and it's really only just beginning. And that is what I treasure most in my husband. Although he only came to believe in Christ a little over ten years ago, he is one of the most devoted and serious Christians I know. And I'm sure he would be embarrassed to read this and would even argue why that isn't true, but that's really all part of his humble spirit. He is the spiritual leader of our house (a job that I wouldn't want to try to fill), and I know that I am truly blessed with this man. It doesn't hurt either that he's handsome, makes me laugh, loves me and our daughter to pieces and would walk though fire for us.

Paris, May 2005
Five Year Anniversary European Tour

Sedona, AZ, June 2008
Navajo Mission Trip

I love you Travis. You are an amazing husband and partner in this life. God has richly blessed you and your ministry, and I'm excited to see where He takes us next. Thank you for an awesome first 10 years; I wouldn't trade one single minute.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
August 17, 2009