Almost 10 years

Well, we're coming up fast on the milestone of 10 years married. For a lot of people our age, that isn't much; many of them have been married for 30 years or more. We also have friends our age who have been married less time than we have. For us, though, it's a big deal, and cause for celebration. The first years of our marriage were extremely difficult, but the second half of this decade of matrimony has seen our marriage steadily improving. This has not happened by chance; we have had to fight for what we have. The discovery that we needed to be fighting together, and not against one another made a huge difference. Realizing that marriage is worth fighting for and resolving to fight that fight, together, also had an enormous impact on where we are now. In future entries, I'll discuss in more detail our journey so far, some of the mistakes we made, and the discoveries which changed our course. If you look at us and our backgrounds, you would conclude that the odds are against us having a healthy close relationship, much less a successful marriage. To be sure, without Jesus in the center of our life, we would be divorced by now. Knowing that God needs to be in the center of a marriage is one thing; knowing how to put Him and KEEP Him there is quite another. It's hard work, it takes a lot of love and patience and willingness to forgive and die to one's self. This is true in every relationship, but in marriage we are put most severely to the test. But if we are decided and determined to do whatever it takes to learn to truly love our husband or wife, God will help us and we will see the miracle of God's design for marriage play out in our lives. So, are you ready to walk this adventure with us? Okay, then, let's go!