This coming Wednesday, my better half and I will have been married for twenty years.

I'm so blessed. I'm blessed to have been married to my best friend for two decades, and to enjoy a love that continues to grow and deepen as time passes. I've learned as I've observed over the past twenty years that not everyone gets to enjoy this in their marriage. I'm so thankful to the Lord who brought us together; two people, different in so many ways (if you know us you'll understand that) but so well matched!

On Saturday we held an intimate vow renewal/celebration ceremony with some close friends and family. It couldn't have been any more perfect; the venue was in the beautiful home of our friends Shawn and Kevin, our pastor led the ceremony, and our friends Meredith, Shawn and Kristi provided the music, and what a beautiful job they did. Our boys escorted Jill down the aisle to the song, "Love will be our home", which was the recessional song at our wedding. I stood up front, holding hands with our daughters, to receive Jill. She was crying as she walked the aisle, just like she was at our wedding (and she swears they are tears of joy, really :-).

During the stating of the vows, the only person I could see was Jill. I know, I know, this post is getting dangerously close to shmaltz-overload, but that's how it was. I was lost in her eyes.

The vows, which this time included vows regarding parenthood, had a different "feel" than they did at our wedding. Deeper. More momentous. I think it's because we've been striving to live our wedding vows these two decades. It's one thing to sing "Household of Faith" at your wedding. It's quite another to actually work to build a household of faith over the years. We've been through two decades trying to do that, living in both great joy and, at times, deep pain. We became parents, which is the greatest experience we've ever had. A great blessing from the Lord, punctuated by moments of extreme terror!

I wouldn't trade any of it. We've learned how much we need the Lord. You've never prayed like you'll pray when your children are going through something hard. And you can never pray enough. But to be able to fight the battles of life with a partner and best friend who stands right alongside you, united in purpose with you, is golden. Gold with diamonds. Priceless.

Jill and I both are fallen humans, saved by grace. We're far from perfect. We strive but fall far short of what God means us to be. But we're so blessed by Him. You will hear people talk about what hard work marriage is. And it is, at times, but I can honestly say that being married to Jill hasn't been hard at all. Lord God, thank You, it's been awesome.

We're currently on a three day getaway, just enjoying time together.

Thanks for twenty great years, sweetie. Lord willing, there are many more ahead of us.