..Eight years..

July 19, 2011. Eight years after we wed, Dave and I find ourselves on a warm Ontario beach, three children in tow, friends around us, fish nibbling on our toes. It is lovely, we are joyful, life is simple. Our years have changed us, molded us together, grown us up together. These last eight years have been the most memorable and dynamic of my 28. :) I have learned who I am in pain or in comfort, how to serve, how to love and have peace. peace and love amidst fulfilling days of work, play and easy going hours of fun; or in the middle of sickness and endless parenting issues. Joy in sleepless nights which blur into grumpy days. Peace when friends are silent and loneliness sets in. joy when God provides finances where we saw none. Joy when the simple way we live actually blesses and encourages others. We treasure moments with good friends, old and new.

Dave and I have learned to be flexible for the days when kids say "you are my favorite" and the days when they argue all day. We have found joy and love when we hit lows and trust God to sustain our hearts and minds. I savor the long, satisfying, tiring talks about how to shape our children's hearts in each changing season. God's helped us to adjust to the character-building, rule-making, grace-giving, selflessly-serving early morning to dark of evening life we lead.

Dave and I have flipped pancakes (and houses) together, we've shopped, built, cleaned, hiked, canoed, danced, talked, learned, cried, forgiven, smiled, laughed, laughed, laughed, read books, written notes, dreamed dreams, set goals, met goals, biked, watched movies, visited with the sick and lonely, entertained visitors and old friends, traveled, tented, flown, swam, kissed, and prayed. it's a good life. and it's God's gift to us. We hope to please Him with every moment He gives us.

((this was a little late in coming. and the pics are randoms from the last few years. the flag of Sweden representing where we met, of course.)) :)