Seriously? Three? Have we really been married three year? Seems that the pages of time have passed by so quickly and in a split second, so much time has passed. When I think back on the last four August 13th’s, they are all so different. This anniversary is by far very different from the last two we have had! The first August 13 was our wedding day. It was such a blur but we had so much fun!! On the second one, our first anniversary, we were in such a dark place. It is a place no newlyweds should be in. Our first year proved to be the most trying year for us. We lost so much that first year. Early into our marriage, 6 weeks married to be exact, I found myself 4 weeks pregnant. 12 weeks into the pregnancy, we were forced to deal with the complications of a molar pregnancy. 6 weeks later, I found myself unexpectedly pregnant again, this time with Hope Noelle. By the time August rolled around for our one year mark, Hope had passed away as well as my father, and Nathan’s grandmother.
During our second year we found ourselves unexpectedly pregnant, again, during the Christmas holidays. Neither of us was ready for another pregnancy so it took several days to wrap the minds around the baby idea again. By the first week of January, I knew I was having problems again and sure enough, I had a tubal pregnancy. Short of throwing in the towel on children, Nathan and I were done with babies. We had suffered so many losses in the first 18 months of marriage that we were ready to just be us.
But God had different plans. Our second anniversary found us sick… I was pregnant again, this time with Chayse. It became on ongoing joke around here… anytime I would say guess what, it was always answered with are you pregnant again. We were thrilled and scared, trying to trust that God really did know what he was doing. The following months I lived with this level of fear that I wouldn't wish on anyone. But my husband, my friend, he never once doubted anything about Chayse.
This year, our third anniversary found us with a new baby and a new level of happiness that I don’t think either of us really knew existed. Nathan and I have been around the United States and seen lots of places….Las Vegas, New York, Disney, St. Louis, and our beloved Key West. The pictures from these trips are scattered around our home but they don’t tell the underlying story of the things we have been through and how far we've come. I won't lie and tell you our journey has been easy. The last three years have been some of the toughest and most trying years of our lives. What I cannot forget though, is that I have also had some of the happiest moments in my life and some of the best experiences in life. I became a wife, I brought two precious children into this world, and I have enjoyed the unconditional love and friendship of some of the greatest people I have ever known. I have been blessed to be able to experience a love that I didn't know existed...first from my husband and secondly from my children. Whoever said marriage is not easy was right, but it is worth every ounce of laughter, tears, smiles, and memories that come out of it.
During our second year we found ourselves unexpectedly pregnant, again, during the Christmas holidays. Neither of us was ready for another pregnancy so it took several days to wrap the minds around the baby idea again. By the first week of January, I knew I was having problems again and sure enough, I had a tubal pregnancy. Short of throwing in the towel on children, Nathan and I were done with babies. We had suffered so many losses in the first 18 months of marriage that we were ready to just be us.
But God had different plans. Our second anniversary found us sick… I was pregnant again, this time with Chayse. It became on ongoing joke around here… anytime I would say guess what, it was always answered with are you pregnant again. We were thrilled and scared, trying to trust that God really did know what he was doing. The following months I lived with this level of fear that I wouldn't wish on anyone. But my husband, my friend, he never once doubted anything about Chayse.
This year, our third anniversary found us with a new baby and a new level of happiness that I don’t think either of us really knew existed. Nathan and I have been around the United States and seen lots of places….Las Vegas, New York, Disney, St. Louis, and our beloved Key West. The pictures from these trips are scattered around our home but they don’t tell the underlying story of the things we have been through and how far we've come. I won't lie and tell you our journey has been easy. The last three years have been some of the toughest and most trying years of our lives. What I cannot forget though, is that I have also had some of the happiest moments in my life and some of the best experiences in life. I became a wife, I brought two precious children into this world, and I have enjoyed the unconditional love and friendship of some of the greatest people I have ever known. I have been blessed to be able to experience a love that I didn't know existed...first from my husband and secondly from my children. Whoever said marriage is not easy was right, but it is worth every ounce of laughter, tears, smiles, and memories that come out of it.
As we find ourselves at the start of year four, we find our life changing once again. We have thought hard and prayed about it for a while now and we have decided that I am not going to go back to work. I know this will be an adjustment for us but I also know that it will be worth it. Nathan is 100% behind my staying home with Chayse. I am so blessed that I have his support in this journey. I am truly blessed beyond words. Thank you Lord, for this wonderful family, and thank you Nathan, for being such a wonderful husband and a wonderful father. I love you.
8 comments:
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Hope you guys have many more HAPPY ones to come!
Also, congrats on being able to stay home with Chayse!
With just one revision...you celebrated your 3rd exactly like I did. We are so blessed, aren't we?! I am so happy for all of you. Chayse is such a just reward for all that you have been through. Hope you had a great day!
You can work any time in your life but you only have one season with your daughter. I am so glad you get to stay home with her.
From another stay home mother,
Beth Johnson
Montgomery, Al
i just came across your blog and what a first post for me to read! my heart goes out to you thru all your struggles thus far. I understand going thru a pregnancy in fear, I had 2 miscarriages before having a successful pregnancy. I'm so happy to hear you have Chayse and you get to stay home with him!! I also chose to stay home with my children and never regretted it. I am now back to work and it's the hardest thing I've done.
Happy Anniversary!!
Happy Anniversary!! Sorry - Joni is my mom. Google was already signed on as her by accident. It was really me who wrote that!!
Happy Anniversary!! Nate and I just celebrated 6 years at the end of June. Isn't it amazing how fast it can go. I'm so glad you had your Nate to help each other through the rough times.
I was always very cautious about the cat and Steven and Penny would stay away from him equally as much. However, Penny, for some reason, seems really close to Natalie. That or she just loves Nat's crib.
We are from Colorado. That was Rocky Mountain National Park, approximately 2 hours from Denver. It's georgeous and I highly recommend it.
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