6 Years Together

Today, September 29th, marks the 6-year anniversary of the day that Tony and I started our relationship. I will never forget the pizza box and the lovely flower that greeted me on the passenger's seat of his truck as we headed out for a "pizza picnic" on that beautiful fall day.
There, as we sat eating pepperoni pizza at a picnic table in the park, he asked me to be his girlfriend. I was ecstatic to say the least! It's hard to believe 6 years have passed already...

As a wedding anniversary gift, Tony surprised me a couple weeks ago with the idea of finding a photographer and getting some pictures taken at some beautiful "gardens" not far from our house. We were so happy with the way the photos turned out. Here are some of our favorites...

Broken and Loved (post by Tony)

I have to admit that I've had some hard moments since Alethia passed away.
I've struggled and felt as if I wasn't going to make it at times.
It seems like the last month has been one of the hardest.
I miss my little girl.
Sometimes I struggle with downright anger, and at other times I'm just tired.
I would go crazy if it were not for the love of two individuals.

One is the love of God.
I'm thankful that God loves me.
He loved me when I wasn't living for him.
He loves me and forgives me when I sin.
Reading through the minor prophets (in the Bible), I'm amazed at how many times he longs for his people just to come back to him in repentance.
I'm thankful that God is our Heavenly Father.

I've always been impressed with the music of Lifehouse. I find their lyrics simple yet profound.
I'm reminded of the chorus of their song "Broken,"
"I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing with a broken heart, that's still beating, in the pain there is healing, in your name I find meaning, so I'm holdin on...I'm barely holding on to you."
I'm holding on to Him.

Second is the love of my wife. I don't know what I would do without her.
I promised to love her with all my heart and soul, and that's what I plan to do.
It's for better and for worse.
With every day together it keeps getting better.
I love you so much, Charity, and I know we are going to make it.

-Tony

Worship

"Worshiping God does not require that we understand or approve of what God has allowed into our lives. It simply requires a heart that desires to trust God and a will that is bent toward obedience to God regardless of our feelings. We worship God because He is worthy, not because we necessarily feel like it. And as we worship in the midst of our pain, we are able to gain perspective on that pain. This is a costly worship--which makes it all the more worthwhile and precious to God."
(Nancy Guthrie--The One Year Book of Hope)

3 years ago...

On September 9, 2006, I married the love of my life.

The Lord has brought us through so much together in the last 3 years, and I can truly say that in the process of being "tested by fire," He has drawn us closer to each other and to Him as a couple.

My dear Tony, I know I loved you soo very much 3 years ago, but I love you even soo much more today!

You make me smile, you make me laugh,

and you challenge and encourage me

in my walk with the Lord.

I just love spending each day with you.

I hope and pray for many more years together.

I am so thankful to the Lord for YOU!

Happy Anniversary, sweet husband!

Football and the Mountains

This past weekend, Tony and I went to a football game with our friends Julie and Daniel.

Then on Sunday & Monday, we took our youth group up to a camp in the mountains for a Labor Day picnic and get-together. We had a group of 20--our largest group ever, especially for an overnight outing like this one.

It has been awesome to see the Lord working as our numbers have increased...2 years ago when we started as youth leaders, we only had 3 kids in our group! We continually pray for evidence of His work in their hearts and spiritual lives. Here are a few pics...

Getting ready for a high ropes course...

What a crazy group...but after all, they are teenagers! We still love 'em. :)

7 months

My precious baby Alethia Joy,

It has been 7 months since we said hello and good-bye to you. I miss you every day.

I can't wait for the day when I will see you and hold you in my arms again. I think about you all the time and my heart just aches. Even though 7 months have passed, the tears continue to flow.

In fact, lately, I feel like they have come even more often.

Last night I spent some time in the room that we spent almost 9 months preparing for you.

I held the blanket that we wrapped your soft, cuddly body in.

I touched the hat that we placed on your little head.

I fingered the tiny pink beaded bracelet that they gave us at the hospital.

I could hardly look at the little dress that you wore that was intended for your first Sunday at church.

But I starred at your precious, intricate hand-prints and foot-prints.

I even chuckled to myself as I opened the closet and was reminded of the hundreds of diapers and wipes that we had stored up for months.

As I opened the drawers full of pink, purple and yellow outfits, I thought of how big you would be by now...already down to the bottom drawer where the 6-9 month clothes are kept.

I rocked back and forth in the rocking chair that has only been sat in a handful of times and thought of how well-worn it would have been by now. And I thought of you. Your daddy and I miss you with all our hearts.

Even in our continued grief, we rejoice in knowing that our Lord and Savior is holding you safely in His arms and loving you even more than we do.

And that's an awful lot.