You're Still The One

Eight years ago today I did the second best thing ever in my life (the first was accepting Christ as my Savior)...I married my soul mate. He was not the first person I was engaged to, or the first person I had loved. I was 32 years old and many had given up on me, thinking me to be an "Old Maid". What they didn't realize is that "God's thoughts are not as our thoughts" and just because His plan for my life was not as others expected, it didn't mean that it wasn't wonderful.

You might have noticed that I relate a lot to music...one of the theme songs of my life is Garth Brooks' "I thank God For Unanswered Prayers"...because if God had given me what I asked for at times (or deserved) I would be pretty miserable. I am so thankful for Tim in my life and that gratitude has certainly been renewed this year as I lay my head and hand on his heart and prayed that God would keep it beating, that God would heal him and not take him away from us.

Eight years ago when I married a man that I had (GASP!) met on the Internet, people thought I was crazy, emotional and some of them worried I was going off the deep end. (Now they love him as I do) Shania Twain's "You're Still The One" was hot on the airwaves at the time and we just knew it would be true of us. And yes, today, eight years later, our lives are crazy at times with three little people, life stresses and financial difficulties. But, our lives are also enriched and deeper and stronger because of our love which has been nurtured by the Father. He promised me through song on our wedding day that he would always be here and he truly is "still the one" for me! I love you Honey! Thank you for everything, especially for always "being here"! (No matter how I type up this post, Blogger changes the formatting when I publish it...sorry for the songs being squished together at the end and the paragraphs being removed!)

You're Still The One"
From Shania Twain's Come On Over Album

(When I first saw you, I saw love.
And the first time you touched me, I felt love.
And afterall this time, you're still the one I love.)

Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

I Will Be Here by

Steven Curtis Chapman

Tomorrow morning if you wake up

And the sun does not appear,

I will be here.

If in the dark we lose sight of love,

Hold my hand and have no fear,

‘Cause I will be here.

I will be here when you feel like being quiet;

When you need to speak your mind, I will listen.

And I will be here when the laughter turns to crying;

Through the winning, losing, and trying, we’ll be together,

‘Cause I will be here.

Tomorrow morning if you wake up

And the future is unclear,

I will be here.

As sure as seasons are made for change,

Our lifetimes are made for years,

So I will be here.

I will be here, so you can cry on my shoulder;

When the mirror tells us we’re older, I will hold you.

And I will be here to watch you grow in beauty,

And tell you all the things you are to me;

I will be here.

I will be true to the promise I have made,

To you and to the One who gave you to me.

As sure as seasons are made for change,

Our lifetimes are made for years,

So I, I will be here.

We'll be together and I will be here.

Our Wedding Hymn

Love Lifted Me

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,

Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,

But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Refrain
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could helpLove lifted me!

All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling

In His blessèd presence live, ever His praises sing,

Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,

Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.

Refrain

Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves,

He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.

He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,

He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.

Refrain

And what a surprise when I looked through the Mary Maxim catalog! I found this Aran afghan, which is quite similar to the trees on our wedding program. We had a poem on the front which we wrote ourselves using the symbolism of two trees which grow stronger as their roots and branches grow together over time. Unfortunately you can only order it in a kit, but I will order it and give the acrylic yarn to our afghan ministry at church and I will use some lovely wool I bought in York, England in 1994! I think this will be a nice reminder of our marriage vows to keep in our home and will look even more beautiful in natural Aran weight wool! Well, blogger is being a stinker and will not allow me to post the picture but you can search for it at Mary Maxim, it is called Twin Trees Afghan. I will probably try to post a picture later. Hey! If you made it this far...thanks! :-)