Ten

Just have to squeeze in a post to commemorate ten. Yesterday was Kelly and I's tenth anniversary.

Marriage has easily been one of the hardest things either one of us has ever done. That's not true for everyone,l but it has certainly been true for us. When people ask us what the most difficult parts have been, we often say (only partially joking) the first five and a half years.

But here we are, ten years in, and our marriage and our family is full of joy, grace and love. That we have made it through those hard times and come out on the other side with gladness in our hearts (and not bitterness) is a testimony to God's grace and power.

I love my wife. She is a tremendous human being, friend, wife, and mother; she is so amazingly gifted and talented in so many things that it is hard for her to settle in and figure out what her one thing will ultimately be. Right now, she graciously and lovingly "condescends" (in the classical use of the word, meaning to lower or submit oneself to another) to spend her days with three tremendous and often patience-testing kids.

Happy anniversary, to my wonderful wife. Thanks for living out "turning towards me and not away in difficulty and in hardship as long as we both shall live" (part of our vows we made together as idealistic and crazy 24-year-olds) for these past ten years.