family day and our 14th wedding anniversary

Talk about an emotional day!!!
In the middle of littles wanting breakfast and bigs waking up, I am going to take you on a little trip down memory lane...
One year ago today, Chris and I celebrated our 13th anniversary in China. Not a vacation. But the day that Jiang Cheng Hao would be placed into our arms and become Anna Chenghao.

 

It has been a wonderful year! I won't gloss over the fact that it has also been extremely difficult at times, but the difficulties have not been in vain. I have watched Anna slowly learn to trust and love; both give love and receive it. The trials have produced amazing growth in me personally and I am so thankful for that! I have learned a little more about how to truly love someone without expecting love in return. Not perfectly. Oh, heavens. Not close some days. I had unrealistic expectations that I imposed on these precious girls. I expected that if I loved them and cared for them, that would be enough for them to love and respond to me.

It wasn't.

This is a dance.

Aren't all human relationships a dance, though?

I am in love with her. I am thankful for her. I tell her often how blessed I am that God chose ME to be her Momma.

 

And speaking of dance...

 

That is a picture that Chris and I took on our 10th anniversary trip. We had a great time together and spent a lot of time dreaming of what God might have in store for us.

 

Four years and two (almost three) children later, here we are.

I love the words to this song because it truly describes the "dance" I feel like our marriage has been...

I've watched the sunrise in your eyes
And I've seen the tears fall like the rain
You've seen me fight so brave and strong
You've held my hand when I'm afraid

We've watched the seasons come and go
We'll see them come and go again
But in winter's chill, or summer's breeze
One thing will not be changin'

CHORUS:
We will dance
When the sun is shining
In the pouring rain
We'll spin and we'll sway
And we will dance
When the gentle breeze
Becomes a hurricane
The music will play
And I'll take your hand
And hold you close to me
And we will dance

Sometimes it's hard to hold you tight
Sometimes we feel so far apart
Sometimes we dance as one
And feel the beating of each others hearts

Some days the dance is slow and sweet
Some days we're bouncing off the walls
No matter how this world may turn
Our love will keep us from fallin'

CHORUS

The music will play
And I'll hold you close
And I won't let you go
Even when our steps
Grow weak and slow
Still I'll take your hand
And hold you close to me
And we, will dance

Chris (and I know he reads my blog) - I love you. Thank you for fourteen years. Thank you for loving me in the way you do - the way that makes me feel safe and cared for. Thank you for leading our marriage and family and doing so in service to the Lord. Thank you for working hard and providing for me. Thank you for making my coffee for me. Thank you for giving me three daughters and two sons. Thank you for letting me dream big - too big, sometimes :) Thank you for giving me the freedom to be a home-maker. There is nothing I would rather be doing. It is such an honor to be your helper, lover and best friend.