Happy Anniversary

Joe and I just celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. My goodness, I cannot believe that 9 years have already come and gone. If you would have told me on our wedding day that we would be even happier than we were then, closer to Christ and have twin boys and a baby girl I probably would have laughed and said "that sounds nice, but I don't think so!" We have been so blessed over the years. I remember the day I told Joe how I felt about him. It was a Thursday night, I was spending the night with a sweet friend, Jennifer and I told her that I really liked Joe. I had just come to terms with it and she thought it was a perfect time to call and tell him. So I did! I even got up enough courage to ask him out only for him to turn me down. The next day we all went to the movies after work to see "American Pie" and Joe and I flirted and when he took me and Jennifer back to her house we ended with a good night kiss. That Monday I told Joe that I had just broken up with my boyfriend and he asked where that left us. That was the beginning of a wonderful marriage. On Christmas Day of 1999 Joe asked me to marry him ( I of course said YES!) Then on November 18, 2000 we became husband and wife. For our anniversary this year Joe put together a surprise evening. We stayed at the Georgian Terrace in one of their luxury suites, had a delicious fondue dinner at the Melting Pot and ended our night with front row seats at the Fox to see the Radio City Music Hall's Rockettes. It was such a wonderful night. If you know my husband, you know that this is so out of character for him but he knows exactly what to do to make me smile. It's amazing how much our love for one another has grown over the years. I've learned throughout the past couple of years that there are people out there that will try and tear down a marriage by betraying their spouse and I'm so thankful that Joe and I keep Christ at the center of our marriage. I have such a huge passion for marriage. I do not believe in divorce. I believe in being faithful and honest at all times and I'm grateful to share those same values with my wonderful husband. So to my honey, I love you so much. Thank you for giving me the greatest years of my life!

I'm an American!

It's been a while since my last blog. My how the time flies by when you're having fun. That's exactly what our family has been having too. A few weeks ago my sweet boys came running upstairs. They were both very excited. Ethan looked at me and with a big grin upon his face he said "Mommy! Me and Bryce are going to heaven!" I assumed he was imagining a trip to heaven. I definitely didn't think he was serious. So I said "Really? When?" And to my surprise his response wasn't what I thought it would be. He informed me that he was in fact very serious. He said that he and Bryce had just asked Jesus into their hearts. I guess because Joe and I were both 9 when we asked Jesus into our hearts I automatically assumed that they were too young. However, after carefully speaking with them and asking them some pretty tough questions. Even meeting with our Pastor at our church, we came to the realization that our little boys are in fact going to heaven. They understand exactly what it means. They understand what it truly means to call yourself a Christian. I could not be more proud of my sweet boys. The day we met with our Pastor we came home and individually asked the boys if they were a Christian. Bryce answered with a proud yes. We made sure he could tell us what it means to be a Christian. Then Ethan came to us. We asked him the exact same question. We said "Ethan, are you a Christian?" And with his big blue eyes he said (very serious) "NO!" Of course I'm shocked. What on earth? We just met with our Pastor, we went over everything, he explained it to us. He told us how we could become a Christian and yet he's not? HUH? So I asked him why not. His response: "Because I'm an American!" I couldn't help but smile. I explained him that when we become saved, we call ourselves Christians. I got the typical "oh" and we moved on. Now they're asking if their grandparents are saved and if their little friends are saved. I pray for my boys that they grow up to be men of God. I pray nightly for their future wives, that they are growing up in Christian homes with values. God has blessed us with His children to call ours but only for a short time. I'm learning that time flies by quickly and to cherish every moment of it.