I married the greatest man I’ve ever known.

Everyday I realize it a little more and more.  I’m extremely blessed.  One lucky girl.

Our Story – It wasn’t love at first sight, or some “I know I’m going to marry this man” kind of meeting.  We met at church in college, and immediately clicked.  We dated for a couple months that summer.  With it being summer, we spent a lot of time together and got to know each other well (or so we thought).  But it just wasn’t our time.  We both knew it.  It wasn’t life shaking, it was a simple summer fling that came to an end.

It wasn’t until a year later, that I ended up accepting a job working for the same campus at LifeChurch.tv that he was the Worship Pastor.  We were the only single people on our small staff, and we quickly became friends again.  We spent every waking moment together.  Over the course of 8 months, he became my best friend.  It was during that time, that I gave my heart to my first love.  A heart that had been broken, tattered and bruised.  I turned to Jesus, the only one who could really make it whole.  When I allowed Him to make me whole, I realized that my 2nd love had been right there beside me the whole time.

It happened fast.  We dated for 2 months.  Got engaged.  Got married 7 months later.  February 29, 2008.

I am who I am because of this man.  I have learned more about myself in the past 3 years than in my entire life.  I opened up.  I became the REAL ME that God created me to be.  I am so grateful to him for that.  He encourages me to be the best I can be, and will support me in anything and everything I desire to do and be.

So if marriage has taught me anything, it’s that I married the greatest person I’ve ever known.

As we celebrate that wonderful day we became one, I fall more and more in love with him.  The past two years have been incredible, and I am so excited about a life ahead with my best friend.

Boys will be boys.

I know it may come as a shock to some of you….but boys are gross.  They are.  They like to play in the dirt. They don’t always take showers on a regular basis.  And little boys turn into men.  And sometimes they don’t grow out of their little boy ways.

The boy I married is ALL boy.  110% boy.  He leaves the house most days without combing his hair.  He shaves once a week only because he has to be on stage.  He leaves his socks on the floor.  He doesn’t understand that you clean the house when you don’t see visible piles of dirt.  He’s not one of those “metro” boys who wears girl jeans and spends an hour fixing his hair.  It’s just not him.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I love my “all boy” man.  Because I feel protected. I feel safe.  And I get to take care of him.  We are very different in so many ways.  I’m all girl, and he’s all boy.  But we compliment each other perfectly.  He likes me best in his sweatpants and no make up on.  And I’m glad he doesn’t wear my jeans.

Being married to a boy has taught me a lot.  I’ve learned that he is the protector.  It kills him when he can’t fix my problems or provide everything I could ever want.  But he teaches me how to put him first because he does it so easily.  He never thinks about himself. It’s just what boys do.  And boys will always be boys.

This weekend, hubby and I will celebrate our 2 year anniversary.  I can’t believe how fast the past two years have FLOWN by. They have been absolutely amazing and I really expect them to get even better.  I wanted to share a few things I’ve learned from being married.

How deeply our God loves us.

If marriage has taught me anything…It has taught me about love.  True love. Agape love.  The love that is so deep that only God can give.  I always thought I had a bit of a grasp on how God loves us.  I had John 3:16 memorized.  I knew despite all we do, that He loves us. I’ve been told all that my entire life.

It was until saying I do, and beginning a life with this man that God had created for me, did I realize I didn’t understand His love at all.  It is unconditional.  Unbelievable.  Something we as humans can’t wrap our minds around.  But God created marriage between a man and a woman to to perfect, pure and intimate.  Just like He wants our relationships with Him to be.

My husband has taught me how to love fully.  For that, I am forever grateful.  I have a deeper love for our Father who created us with each other in mind. I have a deeper love for my husband each and everyday.  It’s truly a beautiful and perfect thing.

Sometimes I fear that I don’t take the time enough to brag on my hubby and tell him how proud I am of him.  I always hope he knows, but I never want to take for granted that he does.  Being a pastor’s wife isn’t always an easy job, as I’m sure my fellow PW friends can agree.

It’s a difficult balance of “work and life”, when your life revolves around your ministry and serving others. My hubby is amazing at this.  Sure, sometimes he brings his work home.  But he does a good job of knowing when it’s time to unplug and focus on me. He’s practicing well for being an amazing daddy by taking his days off to spend with his family.  I’m so thankful for this.  Although him being pulled in a million directions can get hard from time to time, it’s a blessing to get to be a part of what he does. It’s not just his ministry, it’s OURS. I love that he makes me a huge part of it and always values my opinion so highly.

I’ve been a bit of a wreck for the past 8 months.  It’s not been easy on me to be pregnant, and that could have put a lot of pressure on our marriage because it’s hard for me to focus on it a lot of the time.  He has stood by me every step of the way. He tells me I’m beautiful when I feel the size of a house.  He encourages me. He tells me it will be over soon (that’s the best thing I can hear these days…). He never questions his feelings for me.

As women, it’s not always easy to be vulnerable with our spouses.  Especially when we want them to see us as beautiful and as perfect as possible.  But we’re in this thing…for better and for worse.  I’ve had my fair share of “worse” days lately, and he’s not left my side for a second.  And he won’t leave my side during our better days either.

One of the best days is to come, when we see our baby girl for the first time.  I can’t imagine a better man to share this with and to be the father of my children.  Thank you baby for all you for our ministry and our family.  You are truly my hero.

My husband and I are victims of overworking ourselves, being too busy and having no time for ‘us’. It’s really heartbreaking.  We went through a time in our lives where we were both without jobs for several months.  Although it got a little stressful at times, it was the best time in my life.  We spent all of our time together, we slept in, we enjoyed one another and we focused on US. Looking back on that time, I couldn’t be more thankful for it.

Now we both work very busy full time jobs, and we see each other for a few hours a night after work and don’t have much time to really focus on our marriage and each other.  Heartbreaking I tell ya!

So this weekend we are doing just that.  We are taking some time for US. We are getting away, we have no plans (well…we kinda have plans, you know I can’t be THAT spontaneous!). I like to call it a babymoon, but it’s really an us-moon. I love my husband more than anything in this world, and pouring into our relationship is my number one priority.  Even through all the business of life, it should always be.

I encourage you to take some time with your spouse and turn off from the world, and focus on one another!

The hubby & I are embarking on a new adventure together.  It’s been a while since we dusted off the bibles and got those out.  But we’re still not going to.  I mean come on…who actually reads their BIBLE these days??

We are beginning one of the new Reading Plans offered by You Version.  (Tricked ya!) We are going to start off with reading through the Gospels before Baby Girl arrives.  We figure her entrance into our lives will throw off all routine for a while, so it was best to do a shorter plan now & then after we’re a little settled in with her, we’ll dive into a longer more intense plan.  (Hopefully reading through the entire bible!)

After our trip to Israel last summer, I have a totally new perspective of the New Testament and especially the Gospels.  I’ve been there, seen it and walked where Jesus did.  I can’t help but look at these books in a whole new light & I’m excited to dig into them again and hopefully learn new things I never knew about the life of our Savior!

I’m super excited to do this with hubby, and for us to grow together. There’s just not much better than that.

I’d be lying if I said I don’t cry every time I watch this. There is just something special about their love. I know…I know…it’s not real. But yes, yes it is. Love like that CAN be and IS real.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX7iwwB9zQ4]

I fall more in love with my husband every single day. We have that love. It’s not always easy (because he’s a gross boy), but we make it work because we’re madly in love with each other.

Think back to the day you got married. I hope you’re more in love with your spouse today than you were then!! If not…do everything you can to get there!

Thanks Jim & Pam for the beautiful example of love you set for us.

Lifechurch.tv is currently doing a series called “5 Easy Steps to Wreck Your Life”.  This week was “How to Commit Adultery” Craig did a great job of presenting this message in a creative, sarcastic and honest way.  I recommend you checking out this message whether you are married or not.

I am lucky, because I have an incredible marriage.  I know we’ve only been married about 18 months, but we have still been incredibly blessed. I have a faithful husband.  I have never once worried about his faithfulness to me.  I’ve never checked his text messages, e-mails or facebook.  I don’t have to.  That fear is not there.  And you know what?? IT SHOULDN’T BE.  Just because those pretty single girls at church think the worship pastor is cute, I know that his heart is only for ME.

That’s a rare thing.

63% of men will have an affair by the age of 40.

55% of women will have an affair by the age of 40.

Ouch. I don’t like those odds.  That’s why it is so important in your marriage to set boundaries.  If you are newlyweds, or about to be married…set boundaries NOW. Brook & I don’t ever ride in a car with someone of the opposite sex (we do have a few exceptions that consist of basically brothers/sisters, and always talk about it before hand).  We don’t go out to eat with someone of the opposite sex without someone else present to keep us accountable.  We don’t do this because we’re tempted to have an affair, we mostly do it for appearances. It would simply not look well on my husband character if he was out having coffee with another woman from the church.  But if I am present, then no one questions our integrity.  And that is very important whether you are in a place of leadership or not.

Are you struggling in these areas of your marriage? Have you maybe not crossed the “line” yet, but you’re sure flirting with it? And flirting a little too much with that cute guy or girl in your office? Be open and honest with your spouse and GET HELP.

Chris & Cindy Beall are an amazing couple that Brook and I look up to.  You can check out Cindy’s blog at www.cindybeall.com, and all week they are doing videos here to help people that might be in a tough or sticky place in their marriage. They have a beautiful story of forgiveness and how only God can heal a broken marriage.

This is something I am very passionate about.  I know I don’t have a ton of experience in the marriage department, but we’re doing the best we can.  If you need someone to talk to, please feel free to e-mail me.  Go find someone to help you.

Do all that you can to strengthen an already healthy marriage, or rebuild a hurting one! God is a God of forgiveness and redemption!!!

Check out the message online this week here.

Today my hubby turns 29! Wow…we’re getting old.  Except he still acts like he’s 14, so life is still quite fun.  It’s our last birthday before the kid arrives, so I guess we better enjoy not having to pay for a babysitter!

Last year I listed out 28 reasons why I love my husband on his birthday.  I still love him for all those reasons, but this year I’m pregnant and frankly EXAHUSTED.  I love him for being the most amazing husband in the world and for how he’s taken care of me so well in the last 3 months of carrying this child! What a keeper!

Happy Birthday Baby! I hope it’s a great one for you!

What is your FAVORITE thing you and your spouse do together?

(Please keep this PG people…)

It’s SO important that as a married couple you share things that you both enjoy.  Please help me out with a little “project” I’m working on and leave me a comment with what you enjoy. Thanks!!