Life has been an adventure for us since the beginning. Our journey together began with a simple, short phone call orchestrated by a friend. She thought that Vic would be a good match for me even though we were more than a few miles (actually about 980) away from one another. I find it a bit crazy that the two of us went along with it, but I do have to give my friend credit, she was right.

That five minute phone call led to plenty more. For me, it was nice that I never had to pick up the phone to call him. He pursued me.

After about a month, we met in person. Vic flew to visit me. His arrival to the airport is a story by itself that I'll have to share at another time.

This was our beginning. We dated each other long distance for about six months. During this time, we were able to see each other four times. Four times. And in between those four times, I called myself joining the USAF, but we soon found that was simply a detour. The detour caused us to go from regular phone calls to letters. When I look back, I can't help but to laugh because it seems unreal. I know folks do a lot of online dating nowadays and this is a bit more normal now, but 13 years ago we were the only people I knew that did such a thing.

We were married seven months from after our first conversation. Well technically, we eloped seven months after our first conversation. If we had to do all over again, I would still choose to elope.

It's our story ... moving forward even when we fully don't understand.

I can't talk about our marriage without mentioning God.

Our marriage has been an example of His ways and thoughts being higher than ours. I know for certain that we had not the slightest idea of how He would work in our marriage and our lives. At 20 and 21, our faith was lukewarm. We lacked knowledge. We didn't have examples of lifelong, healthy marriages. So to be here today, I know that is only by God's grace.

Even with the cards (read: doubt from others and the divorce rate in our country) stacked against us, we are here today celebrating 13 years of marriage which we can now say is fully grounded in Him.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ephesians 4:12

As the years of have gone by, we have had our share of frustration, disappointment, heartache, and whatever else life has thrown us, but through it all we have become stronger, wiser, more patient, and more understanding.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins
1 Peter 4:8

I know 13 years isn't 50, but I am truly thankful to be standing with Vic who is more than just my husband, but he is also my friend, my partner, the father of my favorite girls, my cheerleader, and my support system even when he is the one who is giving me the headache or when I am just in a mood. This is true. I can be mad at him, but come to the conclusion that I might as well talk to him about it because he is one of my few friends who understands me. I appreciate that he isn't bias and doesn't always try to defend himself first, but instead hears and listens to my concern. Oh, how we have grown over these years.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Celebrating 13 Years ...