Valentine's 2016 is upon us. Tomorrow my Mom and Step dad will be celebrating 25 years in marriage. Marriage I know is not easy and blissful. My Mom and Dad were married and then separated around the time I was five. I remember those tough days, then my Mom met a young man who lived across the street who had two children about my age. It wasn't too long before we became a bit of a family. In 1991, these two ended up getting married in our living room. Us three children sitting on the couch ages 12, and 11 for both my sister and I. We were giggling because of the minister. My Aunt stood as the maid of honor and I believe my grandma and grandpa were there too. I'm going with my memories here. I remember that we got a fair amount of snow the night before, with snow drifts and all. I put on my cute fancy dress shoes to go over to my aunts where the party awaited afterwards. I remember getting very cold feet as the snow melted into my shoes. I remember the fun little party with close family and friends. They chose Valentine's day so they could remember the date. So hard to believe that I remember that day. I was happy for them even though my step dad and I fought so much, because we were so alike. We now get along great. Now they reached 25 years! I am so proud of them, because I know of some of the battles and struggles they faced.
Friends of mine did something so sweet. I offered to watch their son so they could have a date, they planned that date for tonight. I decided to have a dinner ordered in since I wouldn't have had anything special this weekend unlike most couples. Anyway being single is often tough on me at this time of the year because everyone goes on and on about what their significant other does for them. The husband of these friends sat behind me while I was trying to place an order and said that he would pay for that meal. I literally teared up. I didn't need, nor wanted him to feel as though he had to. The jester was kind. I fought those tears hard, just as I am right now. The original plan of what I was going to have fell through, but he paid for the pizza on the way to their date, so when the pizza guy came to drop it off it was paid for. I truly am blessed! Thank you Matt if you read this, it meant a lot to me for you to do that even if Tabetha was behind it ;).
Although 25 years of marriage and love seems like a huge feat and it is now of days. There is a greater love than that! God above loves you and I more than we can ever love another person. I may not be a parent, but I guess the best understanding of that is when a woman become a mother. When I really stop to think about that I am always humbled by that great love. He loved us sooo much that he wanted a relationship with us and wanted us to know Him and to be saved by grace. He sent Jesus to come and live among people, be tempted by Satan, scorned and rejected by many. Persecuted, beaten, and crucified. Then died upon a cross, but then he conquered death three days later.
