Half a Decade!

Happy Anniversary Justin!!! I realize that with our time difference, it's already 30 May for you. For those of you wondering why I picked a picture where my eyes aren't completely open, this is one of the few shots where Justin actually smiled! Love you Hon! Wow, life has definitely been an adventure the past five years! Our dating days were definitely adventurous, as we weren't very outward about the fact we were dating. With Justin being a youth minister, there were always tons of teenagers to speculate and try to play matchmaker. We were trying to keep the fact that we were dating somewhat of a secret, as we didn't want things to be awkward at church if for some reason we didn't work out. I love that I made Justin break his rule of "No dating church members!" A quick note in his defense: I was NEVER in his youth group :) .
Shortly after our first anniversary, I graduated college. We decided this was the time for Justin to go back to seminary. I had never really moved before, so the whole moving thing was adventurous. We had actually planned on Justin going to seminary in New Orleans, but Katrina changed those plans. Right around our second anniversary, Justin got his first pastorate at Lucas Grove Baptist Church (Love y'all!). What a change from being a youth pastor! Sometime in 2007, we began to feel that God was calling Justin to be a chaplain in the military. At this point, we weren't exactly sure in which branch he would serve. After much prayer, God told us Justin was to be an Army chaplain. We filled out all the paperwork, he was approved, and June of 2008, Justin left for training at Ft. Jackson, SC. At this point, I was roughly 5.5-6 months pregnant with our first child. With much help from family, I found a house near Ft. Hood, TX. Justin finished CHBOLC (chaplaincy training) early September and arrived here a little under two weeks before our son, Isaac, was born. Justin left for Iraq in December. Life has DEFINITELY been an adventure due to deployment. Life hasn't always been easy, and there will be many more tough times along the way.
Life has definitely been exciting the past five years. I am blessed to have a husband whose faith in God is rock-solid and who is an encouragement to me, spiritually and emotionally. Thank you Justin for the past five years. I look forward to many more together...even if it means you living past 80!