Today marks my 23 years of marriage to my wonderful wife, Angie. Without her who knows where or what I might be, and I doubt if any of it would be very good.
Over the years there have been many lessons to be learned through the gift that is marriage. The first lesson we learned was that it is best for newlyweds to live away, a good distance away, from their families. This time away allows the new couple to learn to lean on God and each other keeping both families at arm's length.
Though in the beginning I was only a person of nominal faith it was the quiet strength of her faith that challenged me to grow my own. That too was a good thing. While living away, in Jefferson City, MO, we had the blessing to meet up with a minister who really touched my heart, and opened my mind to the quest for a deeper, more biblically sound faith. This quest grew to a decision to follow Christ in December of 2003.
This decision was two and a half years after the most spiritually challenging time of our early marriage. In 2001 our wonderful daughter Olivia was born two months premature and spent 6 weeks in the hospital at Little Rock. We really didn't understand how this would work but with the love, support, and assistance of our families and friends and by God's grace we survived and thrived as a family.
Since these times we have grown through other difficulties and struggles and known success on many varying levels. The greatest of these successes has been receiving a phone call in February of 2015 informing us of Olivia's decision to follow Christ while attending a youth rally in Conway, AR.
With God on our side there is a bright future ahead. This future is at the heart of my desire to achieve a higher level of fitness. Fitness that will allow me to be there and enjoy the years to come with Angie and Olivia as well as those who God has not yet introduced to our lives.
Happy Anniversary to my lovely, warm, humble and oh so much more wife. May there be many wonderful years to come as we continue to write our story, and may the example we set help others to see what is possible with God, a little patience, and the mutual attitudes of a servant.
May we and those around us Do Well!
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