Twelve years ago . . .

Twelve years ago, Bill Clinton was president of the United States, a gallon of gas cost me 99 cents (at least sometimes), and none of the current players of the Philadelphia Phillies had played a single major-league game.  Alot has changed in 12 years.  We've had three presidents, the Phillies won the World Series, and we won't even talk about gas prices!

Twelve years ago, I began a new life - as the wife of an amazing young man!  In those 12 years, we've called three places home . . . owned three different vehicles . . . served in four different ministries . . . more than doubled the size of our family - from 2 to 5.  Alot has happened in 12 years!

Here we are then . . .

. . . and now!

Twelve years ago we began this amazing walk together through life together - I thought it was wonderful back then . . . I had no idea that it would get better with each passing year! Happy anniversary, Brent! You are God's precious gift to me! I look forward with great anticipation to the next 12 years, and the 12 after that, and the 12 after that, and the 12 after that . . .

Sunday, April 4, 1999

Do you remember what you were doing exactly 11 years ago -- on Sunday, April 4, 1999? I do! It's a date I will never forget . . . and here's why:

Eleven years ago, this young man

made this young woman (which happens to be me)
the happiest person in the world when he asked me to be his wife! He proposed on the beach in Ocean City, Maryland, as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday morning.

(I apologize for the quality of the above picture . . . this was before the days of digital cameras, and we had to rely on the kindness of strangers who happened to be walking on the beach at sunrise to capture this memory on film!)

Later in the day, we celebrated with an Easter dinner and special cake with Brent's family.

Thank you, Brent, for stepping out in faith and obeying God eleven years ago! Thank you for the many wonderful memories over the years of our life together! I cannot imagine my life without you in it! And thank You, God, for the precious gift You gave to me in my husband!

Happy engagement anniversary, Brent! I love you so much!

10 years ago . . .

. . . a young woman and a young man
became one in marriage!
Here's a peek into my journal . . . dated July 10, 1999:

Yay! It's finally here! I can't believe it! I'm so excited, yet so calm. I am eagerly anticipating what today holds, yet feeling like I'm living someone else's life. But it's true . . . I am marrying the love of my life today - my friend, confidante, buddy - my life's partner. I don't want to go another minute of my life alone; I know for me what the Bible says is true: It's not good for man (or woman) to be alone. . . .

Father God, I love You! And I love this gift You have given me to treasure! Today I celebrate Your work!

And ten years later, the celebration continues!

Happy 10th anniversary, Brent! I'm so glad that God chose us for each other!

There's no one else I'd rather walk through life with!

37 years ago . . .

. . . two people made a promise to walk through life together, no matter what might come their way. He was 24 and self-employed; she was 20 and finishing college to be a teacher. They had no idea what God had ahead for them. It hasn't always been easy, but thirty-seven years later they are still walking through life together . . . and I'm so thankful because they are my parents.

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad! Thank you for your commitment to serve God faithfully and love each other faithfully. In a world that treats commitment so casually, you are an example to all of us! We love you!

Hermit crab habitat renovations

Well, Poppy and Jason have officially been part of our family for one month (Happy Anniversary, guys!) To celebrate, we visited a pet store to pick up some accessories to make their home more fun! Then while Daddy took Lael to ballet class tonight, Jaden and I worked on our pets' home.

Here is my eager assistant, ready to begin!

We added new aquarium stones -- a much thicker layer so they can burrow down in the rocks if they want to (and isn't it a pretty color!). We also purchased the climbing apparatus, a deeper water dish and larger shells for them to move into as they grow.After we put the crabs back into their new home, both of them checked everything out . . . especially the corners (still trying to figure out what's so fascinating there).
Poppy is our climber! Here he is exploring the new climbing apparatus -- he's pretty daring, even hanging over the edge a bit!

Jason enjoyed hanging out at the new water dish. He also spent quite a bit of time rearranging everything we so carefully placed -- I guess he didn't think very highly of our layout design!

We learned a few interesting hermit crab tidbits today, including:

• Hermit crabs enjoy periodic treats like coconut, popcorn and PEANUT BUTTER!
• Hermit crabs like playing hide and seek -- and they need peace and quiet sometimes (not sure how much of that they get around here).
• Some hermit crabs have been kept in homes as pets for over 20 YEARS (our kids will be out of college by then)!
  
  So that's our pet update . . . one month later, and the hermit crabs are surviving and thriving! (Whew!)

Our wonderful anniversary get-away!

Last week, my wonderful husband took me to a beautiful bed and breakfast in Lancaster County to celebrate our ninth anniversary . . . we had such a great time!

Twin Pine Manor Bed and Breakfast

View of the front of the house taken from the gazebo

View of Lancaster County farms from the rooftop deck

The back of the bed and breakfast

Brent enjoying the beautiful piano

The rooms are all unique and utterly gorgeous . . . you can check them out at their website if you want. (We stayed in the Victorian room.) The grounds are spectacular . . . I was captivated by all the amazing flowers -- probably because I don't do so well at growing them myself! The food was just delicious -- both at Twin Pine Manor as well as the various restaurants we visited during our stay!

We listened to the tape of our wedding, looked at a scrapbook of our engagement, wedding day and honeymoon, and savored the memories. But the best part about our time away was the time we had to reflect on the past nine years of marriage and look forward with anticipation to what God has in store for us in the future.

I love you, Brent . . . thanks for a wonderful get-away! I look forward to next time!

Reflections on July 10, 1999

July 10, 1999 . . . a day that changed my life forever! It was the day I became Mrs. Brent Martin -- one of the happiest, most longed for and prayed for days in my life!

It's hard to believe that we are on the eve of our tenth year of marriage, yet it's even harder to remember what life was like when we were single. Being married to Brent is such a gift, and every day I'm more and more thankful that I am so privileged to walk through this life with him.

I remember sitting alone in my apartment on East New Street after our rehearsal dinner nine years ago, spending time with God and just thinking and praying, so excited for what the future was going to hold, so looking forward to not having to say "goodbye" any more, but just "good night". I was going to be a wife -- not that I had a clue what that would be like, but I was looking forward to the adventure!

Our wedding day was absolutely perfect -- a celebration of our God and His awesome work at bringing the two of us together. We led worship together at our wedding, received words of exhortation from our pastor as well as two of our mentors . . . I even surprised Brent by singing a song to him! It was an amazing day that so reflected us!

It's fun to reminisce . . . but I know that the best is yet to come! Thank you, God, for the precious gift of our marriage, and I pray that we will continue to walk together in love as we raise our children in You and seek to touch those around us with Your love!