33 / 52 – Fifteen Years

Last week was Branden’s and my fifteenth wedding anniversary!  Branden and I got married 8 days after I turned 18, and I didn’t even have my driver’s license yet!  We were really young and had A LOT to learn.  The last decade and a half has brought a lot of life our way – marriage, ministry, kids, moving, and now missions.  It’s strange to feel like our life together has been so full and also that we’re standing at another new beginning!

And I am incredibly grateful – for God’s grace and faithfulness to us, and for a man who follows Christ’s example in how to love and serve, not only us, but everyone around him.  Branden is sweet, funny, smart, talented, and passionate about teaching kids about Jesus.  He’s a man of great character and integrity, and he looks like a movie star!  Branden says he got the better end of the bargain, but I know the truth – I’m the blessed one, truly.

This is one of my favorite pictures from our wedding day.  Ceremony and reception were all over.  We were getting ready to leave the church, and he picked me up to carry me through the door.  Seriously, we were so young!

And this was us, almost a year ago.  Still making me smile 🙂  I can honestly say I love him more now than ever before!  Or maybe that I know more about love than I did before 🙂

Last week I shared my new tattoos.  Well Branden got one too 🙂  They were anniversary tattoos!

The artist did an awesome job!  His tattoo is of little red riding hood and the big bad wolf (in the trees, do you see it?)  Branden collects books of fables and fairy tales and uses them a lot in teaching kids about Biblical principles.  Red riding hood represents us as believers, sent to serve and covered in the blood of Jesus.  The things that cause us fear or keep us from following the Lord can’t harm us.  We can walk in faith and freedom and follow Jesus wholeheartedly!

Thanks for being mine Babe!  I love living this life adventure alongside you!  The best truly is yet to come!