at just 20 and 23 years old, Ryland and i stood before the stained glass cross in white, stainless, pure, beautiful garments and took vows before God that no matter what happened, we would be each others’ sidekicks. In that moment we said “i do”, the challenges of a real enduring marriage had not yet come upon us, but we believed in the promises we were making and knew jesus would be the strength of our love if we ever felt like giving up. now, looking back through 6 years of cooking, cleaning, scheduling, finances, college classes, graduations, interviews, career changes, starting businesses, moving 4 times, 2 pregnancies, delivering and becoming parents to 2 boys, the deaths of mulitple family members, laughter, tears, doubt, worry, anger, and many more difficult storms to navigate, there have been many times we could easily have walked a different path than christ and forgiveness and hope…but he promised me and i promised him and the result has been a messy beautiful love. time has tested our vows and we are stronger than ever in pursuit of the promises we made–to fulfill them wholeheartedly and go over-the-top in our commitments to one another.
Today, on our 6th anniversary, I reflect on how incredibly blessed I am to be married to a man that meant it when he said: “forever.” He vowed those beautiful promises to me in a sparkling white gown, curls in my hair, and nails polished. He promised to stay with the bride who appeared fun, encouraging, fashionable (maybe!), smart, witty (i hope!), and trustworthy. Thank goodness he saw right through that costume though because now I know that he was really promising to the woman standing inside of it–the woman with doubts and insecurities and secrets and indifference and anger. The girl who sometimes can’t get it together and most definitely doesn’t always look “together”. He sees me without make-up and without inhibitions and without control. No one (besides Jesus!) knows who I really am and loves me anyway like he does. He hasn’t just spoken his vows, he has proved them over and over. I can never forget how blessed I am that I know without a shadow of a doubt that he meant it when he said “I do”. Thank you for 6 years of promises kept Ryland! 6 years is nowhere near enough to see where God will take this love inside of us and I know 100 wouldn’t be enough either. Here’s to you and to our 70th (or maybe more) anniversary someday!
Do you remember our wedding day?….jpg)
Do you remember our college days and our first puppy?.jpg)
Do you remember our honeymoon and our trip to California?.jpg)
Do you remember when you made my dreams come true and bought me a camera? I never would have been a photographer without you! Thank you for believing in me to be something I couldn’t imagine achieving..jpg)
Do you remember when I told you I was pregnant and we became parents for the first time? .jpg)
Do you remember when you held me and cried with me at my dad’s funeral? Or the time we moved back to Florida when I was 37 weeks pregnant?.jpg)
Remember when you followed your dreams and turned roasting your own coffee in our tiny apartment to a successful coffee roastery that distributes to cafes and restaurants!?.jpg)
Remember when we bought our first home together?.jpg)
Remember when we welcomed our second baby boy?.jpg)
Remember when we were blessed with this little family to enjoy and to love? God is so good! .jpg)
You are my side-kick and always have been Ryland. Thank you for everything you are and most of all, for your promise to love me forever. i love you my sweet handsome husband!
“Look around
There’s no one but you and me
Right here and now
The way it was meant to be
There’s a smile on my face
Knowing that together everything that’s in our way
We’re better than alright
Walking between the raindrops
Riding the aftershock beside you
Off into the sunset
Living like there’s nothing left to lose
Chasing after gold mines
Crossing the fine lines we knew
Hold on and take a breath
I’ll be here every step
Walking between the raindrops with you
Take me now
The world’s such a crazy place
When the walls come down
You’ll know I’m here to stay
There’s nothing I would change
Knowing that together everything that’s in our way
We’re better than alright.”
Life House & Natasha Bedingfield “Between the Raindrops”
