December 8, 2001

Today is the day! Candace and I were married 9 years ago today. Here's the extremely short version of how we got here. There are a lot more details, and if you want to know more stay tuned, maybe some day we'll put a "History of Us" page on here somewhere.

It all started in 1998 at the Georgia - Georgia Tech game, our unofficial first date. We had been "Friends" for some time and I wanted to ask her out, but I was too nervous to actually call this a date, so we went as "friends", but I still paid for everything and treated it like a date...but who cares now;) Fast forward to Valentine's day 2000; I asked Candace out, officially this time. Our first date was a double with David and Liz. We went to the Basil Press in Athens and then went to see Carrot Top at the Classic Center. One year later, February 14, 2001, while having a picnic (Five Points deli chicken salad!!!) I got down on my knees and washed Candace's feet, asked her to marry me and pledged to serve her like Christ served the Church. She said yes and almost 10 months later we promised to love each other 'til we are parted by death." Somehow I think I will love her longer than that though!

I am most definitely a very blessed man to be married to her. These 9 years have been absolutely amazing. At the risk of being cheesy, I will say that she makes me smile. If I am down all I have to do is look at her and God reminds me that He has good plans! It hasn't always been perfect (although there are far more highs than lows), but there is no one on the planet I would rather spend my life with (ups and downs).

In our short period of time together, God has blessed us with 3 beautiful children, and a host of wonderful friends and family. I am truly blessed and humbled to be her husband and servant. I Love Candace more today than the day we got married and I can't wait to see what the next 9 years has in store for us. Looking back at where we've come from one thing is certain, God has a plans for us and those plans are for our prosperity (Jer 29:11).

So today I am blessed and full of Hope because I see how good God has been and know how good He will be.

Thankfulness

I wanted to write something to describe how thankful I am for how much God has blessed me, and when I visited the blog I saw my post from July 13, 2009 (Wow, we really need to post more often!) so I decided to repost it:

In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus, heals 10 men with leprosy. Only one (the Samaritan) returns to thank Jesus, to which Jesus responds (vs. 17 & 18) "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" As I was talking to the kids about the story it hit me that I am often like the other 9, always asking for God's help, but never returning to him in thankfulness. David mentioned the same thought in his sermon on effective and fervent prayer, mentioning that we as parents are much more likely to be more generous to our children when the are thankful for and appreciative of the things they have already been given.

The problem I have is that I don't often take the time to reflect on what God has given me, so I am often forgetful of everything I have to be thankful for. Taking time to remember God's goodness can really change your mood, and its a matter of focus. God's nature doesn't change. If he has been good to us in the past he will be good to us in the future, even if we don't seem to understand it. The prophet Jeremiah tells us (29:11-14) "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'" The lesson for me in all of this is that we can't seek with our whole heart if we can't approach with thankfulness.

So today (and hopefully everyday day after) I am THANKFUL!