3rd Anniversary!!!!

Today is my 3rd Anniversary with Mr. Gardener!!!!!!!!

These are the shoes I wore for our  wedding.

It's incredible to believe. It feels like I can't believe that three years have passed and simultaneously, I can't believe that it's only been 3 years.

I can't imagine life any other way.

It's also my parents' anniversary. We chose to honor them by also getting married on their anniversary. They have been an incredible example of how marriage should be. They are celebrating 36(!) years this year.

This is our beloved pastor, Pastor Smith. We met at his church and we definitely wanted him to marry us. He taught me so much about faith and God and the responsibilities associated with being a person of faith. (Side note: you really should check out City of Refuge - it is an incredible church doing God's amazing work in the community. Different pastor now - Pastor Smith is in Memphis. But Pastor Ikki is also awesome. Never met him, but his sermons rock.)

Pastor Smith gave us the best marriage advice.

I know I've only been married three years, but we've had our ups and downs, awesome times, and drag out fights, just like any other couple.

And I am a lot of things, but I'm no dummy, so I know good advice when I hear it. :)

He actually started out the sermon, like this: "Love does not sustain a marriage."

I think a lot of jaws dropped at that. And I loved it. Still do. 

It's true. And I also love shocking people. :)

Commitment sustains a marriage.

And it's so true.

I love Josh. So much. 

But sometimes he drives me crazy. Sometimes he makes me mad. And sometimes when he accidentally pushes me out the bed in the middle of the night, he makes me cranky. And in those moments, I love him, but it doesn't feel the same way that we usually describe love, at least in our Western society.

But I wake up everyday and I choose to love him. I choose to be married to him. I choose to walk with him.

And he chooses the same thing.

We made a promise. Actually, we made more than a promise, we made a covenant. Just like God made a covenant with us that He will always be with us, Josh and I have made a commitment to each other.

And that, along with growing together in Christ, will sustain our marriage.

I'm not saying marriage is easy. In fact, a lot of days it's not, which is why commitment is so important. And that sermon has had such an awesome impact on our relationship, that I believe it's absolutely worth sharing.

Here's to many more years!