love never quits...

we were both 16 when we met

highschool sweethearts

 He was 
 funny, out-going, fun-lovin', full-of-highschool spirit.

I was 
the bookworm, way-too-serious, shy girl. 

opposites, you might say.

we came from broken homes

but

we were full 

of  love 

and

full of dreams

simple dreams to

fill our (old) home with lotsa babies

and

lotsa love

love for each other and love for our God

The first 15 years were our adventure years.

we had those babies (5)

we lived in those old houses (4 of them)

we began the adventure of homeschooling

we played football in the yard

we began a family-based business to teach our children to work

(we bought, renovated and re-sold more old houses together)

we had chickens, bicycles, gardens, cookstoves

we built a new house to look like an old house...

Those were happy times:
I had  my squared paper...always planning

and he had  his hammer...building.

Our dreams came true.

we served together, we played together, we laughed together  

and 

we loved together.

It was an easy, fun life with wonderful memories.

The second half has been our hard years.

we have had difficult times

our marriage has been tested

there has been much grief.

his. mine. and ours.

If you have ever lived with someone 
while they grieve 
you will know what I am talking about.

the times when you wonder

Where is that man (woman) I  married 
and 
will he (she) ever come back?

These have been the years when the words

for better, for worse

for richer, for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

when the I do's

were not just words anymore
but 
choices.

I am a simple girl.

I cling to simple promises and simple commands:

 Love is patient, love is kind.
 It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 
 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,
 it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 
 Love does not delight in evil 
but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 my simple-er paraphrase:


Love never quits.

You do not know how much I have relied on this.

  Grace has been given.

Love has been sustained.

I am sharing all of this

because maybe there is someone out there reading

that wants to quit.

Do. Not. Quit.

Let God be your strength, your grace, your love.

You know, the first 15 were fun

but 
these last years?

These are the years that  really mean something.

Are we (is he) healed?

Not yet.

But we're (he's) getting there

and 
God is faithful.

I love my guy

and

he loves me.

We promised each other and we promised God:

until death do us part

Today 

I celebrate   31 years  of
  fun and  struggle

  joy and  pain
laughter, tears, and madder words.

I celebrate a love that does not quit.

photos  from the *barn shoot*...
jamiehudsonphoto.com