10^th Anniversary!!

As of Saturday May 6^th, 2006, my dear sweet husband and I have been married 10 years!! Over the last ten years, we have experienced many ups and downs, as we have learned to bend to God’s will for our lives, and to live together as one. Over the years we have had many friends and family members get married, then divorce. The common struggle we have noticed in all these people is that they were two acting as two. The Lord commands that the “two will become one.” Genesis 2:24. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. My husband and I never really had an example of two becoming one, like many in our society; it was “all about me!” Since marriage was God’s original idea, not man’s, we are held to God’s plans for the covenant of marriage. Whether individuals are believers or not, the marriage covenant still has spiritual ties. We find evidence of this in Matthew 19:4-6 from the words of Jesus himself… "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Those ties go far beyond, sharing a home, children, vehicles, and a bank account; these are our very souls being bound up in heaven. Without much of any proper example for marriage, (except how not to be) my husband and I struggled to find our way. It was through God alone. We did have a very wonderful couple constantly lift us up in prayer, read to us, and gift us a trip to a lovely marriage retreat. Praise the Lord, He brought along a couple to mentor us through our time of strife, and extreme pain. The wounds of the beginning of our marriage are healed through the Lord’s grace, and we have been continually building on the foundation that God laid before us. Learning to live as one effects every aspect of our everyday lives, from how we homeschool, to the decisions my husband makes regarding work. One great example of marriage we did take away from our parents was one of division, and we wanted no part of it! It nearly destroyed us as individuals growing up. Once we were told by my FIL that he noticed we were “very intentional about the way we live our lives and raise our children”…you know I never thought much about it, but yes I suppose we are. It seems to be in our very nature to see the whole picture, and work towards those goals, which God has called us. We learned very early on that a house divided will fall. Luke 11:17 "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. It is our desire to raise up our family, as a house united, down to the very decisions we make regarding everyday life, even homeschooling. The reason I mention homeschooling is that seems to be a big point of contention among homeschooling (or potentially homeschooling) families I have met recently. Usually one parent does not agree or is apathetic, even if they allow it. That right there is an example of division. There is contention, which leads to avoidance of the serious issues that may and will come up regarding homeschooling/training up children. There will always be issues that require attention. In Isaiah 43:2 it states WHEN, not IF; when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you, when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. We can not survive the trials life throws at us without God, and as married couples, each other. I continually praise our Father, who rescued my husband and I from a family cycle of selfishness, neglect, and or abuse, whether physically or mentally. He has allowed us to overcome those things which could have spilled over into our own family. I look forward to the next 10, 15, 20 or more years the Lord chooses to set before us. I will see it all as a gift. 

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