Our First Twelve Months

Beloveds, this week is our 18th wedding anniversary.

I just want to share a few things from our first 12 months. We were 31. Very different. Very set in our ways, but loved God.

Contrary to counsel, I didn’t work. Instead, we went door to door doing evangelism, led Bible Studies, did a VBS in our driveway, ministered to the neighborhood kids, helped start two churches, and saw one Muslim man get saved.

Our house was ugly, but I decorated it anyway. I made green, pink, and blue curtains. Our comforter was Florida looking, yellow and blue. We bought all our furniture second hand, second hand. When we finished, I loved it.

Fun and funny things I remember:
Surfing in the swimming pool (Dad did anyway!)
The thump in the night
Wet clothes draped across clothes lines in our living room
Bruce (our red neck neighbor)
“The weird wobbers”
Red hair
Aleem, Alia, and Fred, (our neighborhood children)
Watching Muslims do their salats in our neighbor’s living room, facing our house.
Our first meal in a restaurant, six months after we married! Someone else paid.
On the evening of our one year anniversary, eating seafood at a breezy restaurant on the beach.


I cherish these memories! Not much money, but lots of fun.

I also cherish your Dad. He has never wanted me to work, just be by his side. He has never wanted me to worry about money. He bears the responsibility. HIs trust is in God, not himself. Through the good times and the bad times, he is immovable. He says he’s not patient, but he is (with me anyway!) He was a rock then, and he’s a rock now.

A marriage with great memories attached are a gift from God. I pray God will give you that same gift. Until He does, I encourage you to pray and prepare for a spouse, now. It’s work, but it’s well worth it!