20 years ago I married my… ok I am not going to say the “F” word, I would rather use a Bible Verse.
“It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.” LOL… (Proverbs 21:19, NLT). Can I get an AMEN! I have another one for later. Yes Dear..
I have known Alissa for close to 28 years. Boy does that make us sound old! We were high school Sweethearts. She loves to tell the story that she saw me in the school hallway and told her friend that I was the one she was going to marry. She had not even met me. She also loves to tell everyone that God created her for me because I am 9 months older than her. She loves to tell people how we met, but tends to forget the specific details. We did break up for about 2 years from 87-89, since we were in separate parts of the country. Also that I prayed to God for her to call me while we were our separate ways, and she did. Ultimately we wound up together. Whether you believe it was fate, coincidence, chance, luck, or the one I believe is true, part of God’s plan an purpose, we have been married for 20 years.
“A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day. Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands” (Proverbs 27:15-16, NLT). LOL Look it up, it is in there. Yes Dear…
I would be lying if I said the last 20 years have been without drama. The first 7 were a roller coaster ride, not one of those fun ones either, more like the ones you come off all beat up or ready to throw up. Now before you get mad at me, Alissa would agree with me. It wasn’t because we did not love each other but there were some differences we had not dealt with or had to deal with when we were dating or engaged. Our Beliefs in God were vastly different. It was not fun. But somehow we made it work (God). It would have been easy to break up. But God reminded me that I did not marry her because of our faith but because of love.
Ultimately, what was supposed to be the “7 Year itch” was a perfect year. A joyous year; a year of release; a year of seeing God at work. That’s right I am talking about 9/2001, it was a year of tragedy for our country and the world, but this was the year and month of breakthrough for Alissa and I, a year of new beginnings. We had built some huge walls and were so used to keeping things bottle up, we had to learn how to have a real relationship again. Have we perfected it? NOT, but we laugh, we cry, we talk loud, we whisper, we talk (I still need to work on actually listening, though, LOL). Yes Dear…
So what the heck or where am I going with this? Good question. Not sure, just started typing.
20 years ago… I married the love of my life. We are older, wiser, heavier, and produce a lot more gas, yet you can’t pull us apart. She has supported me through thick and thin. Crazy career changes, school, and becoming a Pastor.
She is a great mom, teacher, friend, prayer warrior, and now Dr. and part time Professor, sister, daughter, aunt, daughter-in-law, cousin, well you get the picture.
Almost forgot, wonderful wife! Yes Dear..
Chiqui (Chiquita, Spanish for shorty) I love you and look forward to the next 20. We have a beautiful daughter and someday, many grandchildren, according to Laura, LOL.
A couple of months ago I was blessed and honored to marry a good friend of mine and her husband. My first wedding gig. It was awesome. The perfect day for the perfect couple.
Watching them just Giggle and Gleam was a huge blessing for me.
As I prepped for their wedding, I began to think of Alissa and I’s wedding day, it was hot and sticky and they pulled a dead body out of the river near the reception hall, after we finished taking pictures. But it was the most AMAZING day of my life tied with the birth of my daughter. We sit and watch the video at least once a year to get a good laugh, and get that goose bump feeling as if we were right there in the moment!
Happy 20th Alissa. I love you!
Over a month ago