He's Still THE ONE

Eleven years ago I married my sweet Jason. I have no idea how 11 years happened, but it did.  It has been a wild ride and there is no one I would rather be riding with.

We met in the summer of 1996.  We were both counseling at the same camp.  I didn't think much of him, though I distinctly remember saying to someone,

 

"He is going to be an amazing father someday!"

 

And that was it for 1996.

 

Fast forward two years.  It is 1998 and we are both back at camp.  I had since travelled to India and knew I wanted to work with kids overseas.  He had asked a friend questions about me.  A week or so into the summer and we knew things were happening.

It wasn't easy for me.  I was scared.  I had prayed -- for many years -- that there would be no other men in my life until THE ONE.  I had spent four years grieving over a past relationship -- a relationship that when ended, flipped my life upside down and back again. A few times.  So my prayer was: no more -- no one until THE ONE. I couldn't risk it again. I love too deeply.

When I heard the words, "I want to work in a second or third world country doing youth ministry" come out of his mouth, I think I knew. As the summer went on, I knew I knew.  He was it.

We had a summer together, officially "not together" due to camp rules. Then we had ten days.  Then I left to study abroad in Israel for the semester.

Lots and lots of middle of the night phone calls. Scores of emails and letters.  Tears shed. Prayers prayed. Wisdom sought. 

I arrived back in the States in time for his sister's funeral. We had Thanksgiving and Christmas together. He was job searching -- all over the world.  I still had a semester of school to finish.  We trusted God. The ONE door that God opened for him was fifteen minutes from my college. We were engaged in February. 

Married December 17, 1999.

Since then we have...

• Lived in Indiana, India, Colorado Springs, Malaysia, Nebraska, Florida, and Indonesia
• Ran a sports department together for three years
• Dormparented over 80 kids.
• Lost three babies before we met them
• Have been blessed with four amazing kids, born in three countries.  Soon to be five in four.
• Have moved house EVERY SUMMER we have been married
• Been through ups, downs, and all arounds.

And through it all, he is still THE ONE.

 

At our wedding we had an anniversary dance.  We played Shania Twain's, "You're Still the One."  Even then, I knew there were those who thought we wouldn't make it.  We come from two different worlds. But we knew we would make it.  We knew that God had brought us together and that He would hold us together.  Eleven years. Hoping for at least fifty more.

 

I could spend a lot of time sharing what I love about him.  The list isn't short.  But in the end, if I had to just pick one thing, I know what I would choose.  I would go back to the first thing I ever thought about him...way back in 1996 when I had absolutely no interest in him:

 

"He is going to be an amazing father someday!"

 

Someday is now.  He is THE MOST AMAZING FATHER IN THE WORLD. Is he perfect?  No.  That's good though, since I am far from the perfect mother.  But he is amazing because he does the second most important job as a father.  Other than pointing his kids to Christ, I believe the most important thing a father can do for his children is to love them in such a way that they never, ever, EVER question that they have a father who loves them.  And really, since an earthly father is a tangible example of our Heavenly father, those two jobs are really one in the same, aren't they?  A child who never, ever, EVER has to wonder, "Does my father love me? hopefully will never have reason to question the unfailing love of God.

And my kids never, ever, EVER have to wonder if their dad loves them.  Every day he demonstrates his love in tangible ways. Our kids may find other faults in him, but I would bet my life (and more) that they will never question his love. And that is the number one reason I love him.  There are a billion others, but that is the one that gets me through the "I am so mad at him I could spit" days.  That is the one that helps me deal with the socks on the floor, the dishes at the table, and much-too-Asian timetable he runs on.  He loves our kids.  He loves me.

He is still THE ONE.

 

From this:

To this:

To my sweet Jason:

I have no idea why you married me and why you still love me.  But I am thankful.  And even though I don't always say it, and although I don't always show it, I love you more than words could ever say. You are the reason I kept going...even before I knew there was a you. You are the reason that I decided on that fateful day in my freshman dorm room that life WAS worth living.  More than anything, I wanted a husband to be with forever and children to love and a life to live. So I chose LIFE and I waited.  And then there was you.

I am blessed beyond measure. Our kids are blessed.  I hope and pray that our family will be a blessing.  I want others to know that it IS possible.  When I was a teenager I saw Tom and Joyce walking around camp holding hands and for the first time in my life I thought, "Maybe love and marriage IS possible." I hope that we can one day be that "old" couple still holding hands that inspires others. Because if I have learned anything over the last eleven years, I have learned that true love is possible, even through hard times.  Even through miscarriages.  Even through fights.  Even through dark nights of the soul.  Even through four crazy kids. Even through five of MY pregnancies.  Through it all, we've made it.  After eleven years, you are still THE ONE.

 

 

 

When I first saw you, I saw love
And the first time you touched me, I felt love
And after all this time, you're still the one I love

Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life

(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life

(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night
You're still the one

I'm so glad we made it
Look how far we've come my baby

Comments

[Nancy]

Very beautiful show! You have a lovely family and you can see the love in the photos!

I met my husband in 96, married in 99 and we walked down the aisle to Shaina's From this Moment On. And he's still the one! :)

Happy Anniversary!

[phillipsfamily]

From this Moment on was for our first dance ; )  Still The One was for the anniversary dance for all the married couples ;)

[Lydia Kurniawati]

Congratulation for a lovely couple, wish you happiness & joy today and for the years coming. :)

[Rhadonda]

Happy Anniversary and congratulations. Teenagers NEED to see couples who truly love each other and stick it out but most of all have Christ as the center of their relationship. I pray that for my kids and to be patient and wait! God Bless you and your sweet family.

[Lindy]

Happy Anniversary. I am so happy for you two! I am honored to have stood with you on that day, and I bless God for your faithfulness and love 11 years later. Love you!