Today is September 2nd. Today is Mike's and my 12th wedding anniversary! Despite it being the holiday weekend, we got away today for dinner and some shopping when he got home from work. As we sat down to dinner at Outback, we talked briefly about how we can't believe we have been married for 12 years. It doesn't feel that long, but it also feels like forever too. We agreed that every year has been varying levels of difficult - but this past year was a real doozy. We said it has been our hardest yet.

Today as I looked at my husband's handsome face that SOMEHOW has stood the test of time and he STILL looks exactly the same as he did when we started dating 14 years ago, I felt a tinge of sadness. When we got married this day 12 years ago, we never would have guessed this is our future. Last night as I was getting ready for bed after a particularly trying day with our oldest son, I asked Mike, "Why? Why did God find us fit to be parents to these kids?" The question just hung in the air between us - unanswered. I ask this almost every day - just trying to find some reason behind it all.

This morning I had a thought...What if we are in a refining period? As we patch holes in our walls, are we being refined? As we try to disciple our kids in their own unique ways, are we being refined? When we lose our patience with each other, can we consider that refinement - please??

What I do know is...when we got home from our afternoon out, our oldest was playing in the toilet and drinking the water. So yep. That definitely confirmed it for me - this is a refining period for us. Will we ever see the end result of this refining period? I don't know for sure. But we'll keep pressing on each day, doing the best we can. 🙏


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