After 10 years together...

As many of you know, Chad and I recently celebrated our 10th anniversary.  Wow, 10 years...it seems almost crazy that it has been that long.  It has flown by like a vapor.  There are so many things we have shared in the last 10 years.  If we could have looked into the future and saw where we would be...our lives might have been different.  I am so glad we couldn't, because there is nothing I would change, through our ups and downs, we didn't know what was around the corner.  We had to rely fully on God to bring us through to the other side.  Here are some highlights of the last 10 years....the good and the bad.

ITP: Yep, I was diagnosed with ITP early in our marriage.  It is a blood disorder that effects your bodies ability to keep platelets.  My body destroys them.  We had no idea it even existed and we learned together.  I struggled for over a year to get it under control, and Chad was by my side.  He never waivered in his love for me or his trust in the Lord.  He knew we would be okay.  It has changed my life and his.  So much of everything that we have been through has been a result of that diagnosis, that moment when we found out.   He is so much stronger than me, and I know God put us together for that reason, God knew I would need him to lean on.  We had no idea that this moment would change our entire lives. 

Memphis Vacation:  So this one seems silly, but it is a highlight of our marriage.  I am sure you know, I am a huge Elvis fan.  I had already been to Memphis when I was a teenager with my parents, but it was so much fun to share it with Chad.  I was also pregnant on this trip.  July, in Memphis, at least 90 degrees everday, I am not sure why we did that!  I am not even sure, why this was my favorite trip!  We still say that it tops the list as one of our best vacations.  We were even chased down the street by a homeless man!  He had given us his best Martin Luther King impersonation and Chad wasn't generous enough with the money, in his opinion.  I can still see us running down Beale Street, and him screaming from behind "I poured my heart out to ya'll!"  You can't help but laugh.

Along Came Hannah:  These aren't in any order, this is without question #1!  I prayed for a child for so long, and we weren't sure it was going to happen for us.  Pregnancy and ITP don't mix!   All the doctors went on and on about how platelet counts drop more in pregnancy.  Turns out, my counts were higher while I was pregnant.  That is the power of my GOD!  When Hannah came along, it was the hardest thing we have ever done.  We had no idea what we were doing.  I remember my mom showing Chad how to change a diaper in the hospital.  I was thinking, "whoa, we are in trouble!"  We learned so much together.  The three of us stuck together and figured it all out. She is the light of our lives.  She changed us for the better, and brought us closer than ever!

Disney Vacation:   So, I know I said Memphis was up there as the greatest, taking my baby girl to Disney was up there too!  The light in her eyes is something that can never be described.  The Lord blessed up beyong measure to be able to share that with her.  It was extraordinary for Chad and I too.  If you have kids you know that, making your child happy is what you want most in life.  Chad and I shared so many memories together on that trip.  When we are old and gray and Hannah is gone from home, I think we'll say "Remember at Disney when she..." and we'll laugh and smile and remember those times as some of the best we had...

Quiet nights at home:  I guess we are old and boring but nights at home are so much more wonderful than going out.  For us, we don't drink or party so we prefer quiet time.  It is amazing how when you love someone, just being with them is enough.  When Hannah goes to bed and it is quiet and we are watching one of our favorite shows or a movie, I am my happiest. 

There are so many things we have shared together.  I really can't put into words how much joy I have because he is in my life.  I have grown up with Chad.  We have cried together through deaths of dear family, and we celebrated as new ones come in, births and weddings.  I have grown closer to God because of his Godly leadership of our household.   Hannah loves Jesus with all her heart, His light shines when you look at her and it is because we have him to lead our home.   You can literally see the Love of God in him when you look into his eyes.  How can I not fall in love with him all over again when I see that?   There is nothing more I could ask for in a life partner and best friend....