Seven...and counting...

B.J. and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary yesterday.  The day was fairly ordinary, but little tokens of appreciation and shared memories made it very special.

 We started the day as we usually do ~
tea and devotions at the table.

I sent a box of SweetTarts in B.J.'s lunch (we always used to share SweetTarts on our trips to and from MI ~ he loves them).
He sent me flowers.   

 He came home early enough to give all of the kids moped and motorcycle rides.  I picked up my sisters' TV and VCR so we could all enjoy our wedding and honeymoon videos (we haven't watched them since our first anniversary).

  So after supper we all settled down in the family room ~ our children were overcome with excitement; B.J. and I were overcome with memories.  We especially enjoyed seeing the faces of family and friends as they were ushered into the sanctuary prior to the ceremony and as they came through the line to congratulate us and laughing at our antics as we drove 520 miles through Alaska in one day.  

Three things struck me as we watched the footage of our ceremony, reception, and the beautiful Alaskan countryside.  First, we are all creatures of time.  Some of the faces we saw belong to those who have already gone to glory; the rest of us have aged.  Second, what a blessing it is surrounded by family and friends, to belong to Christ's bride.  Earlier in the day we had been helped by two friends from church ~ one watched our older children while Nathan and I were at the doctor, and another brought us a meal.  Then the video reminded us of the loving support of all our "witnesses" on our wedding day, support that we still feel today.  Third, I was struck by how much my appreciation of and love for my husband has grown since we were wed.  By the grace of God, this "thing" called marriage truly does get better with time.

"...Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.  Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.  For this God is our God forever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death."

Psalm 48:12-14 (our wedding text) 

All photos copyright Maurer Photography