Twenty Years in the Making

They say nothing good is ever built overnight. "Rome wasn't built in a day" and like any good thing its ingredients must consist of effort, persistence, consistency and time. I think on these things as I turn a new chapter in my life that our ordinary days become extraordinary days when we build our lives with the right things.

Ordinary days become extraordinary days when we build our lives with the right things

As I get a little older, I'm becoming a little more nostalgic. All signs point to the fact that I'm aging, yet I still feel so much vigor for life. I'm not satisfied even still with where I am at. In fact, I still consider myself a young person just barely discovering the purpose of God for my life. Its exciting!

2015 marks several new milestones for me. This year will be 20 years since I've graduated from high school. It marks the beginning of a new age of parenting as we have our first teenager in the house come July. In August, my husband and I celebrate 15 years of marriage. Just saying these numbers reinforcing the reality how quickly days turn into years.

How quickly days turn into years

My hubby and I can hardly believe how quickly times flies. My oldest child is eye level, and I'm barely hanging on to be taller than him. It doesn't bother me that probably by summer, he'll be passing me up because I'll always be his mother, and pretty sure the fire in me could always whoop him if needed. Just kidding, but its a new season as I look back, I realize the journey is worth celebrating. Its take a lot of blood, sweat, tears and effort, and what we have doesn't happen on our own. With the grace of God, we have come a long way!

With the grace of God, we have come a long way!

May 19th has a special place in our heart because 20 years to the day, my husband and I had our first date! That set us on a course of dating for three years that led to a proposal, a ring, 2 years of engagement, a wedding, parenthood and a wonderful life together. 20 years summed up just like that has a lot to say, holds many memories, and we felt the beginning is worth celebrating.

The beginning can seem like the most exciting time. I think back to when Michael & I started dating. The attraction, the phone calls, going places together, it was intoxicating to fall in love. Yet, that kind of love, isn't what has kept us together all these years. Its been a lot of prayer, forgiveness, learning, understanding, and unconditional love. Its these efforts that have lead to success.

It was intoxicating to fall in love

It was fun to look back though and remember how it all started. The phone call that lead to our first date. I remember asking his best friend, Dan, one day in school who Michael was going to prom with and dropping a 'hint' that I'd love to go with him. In fact, I had it determined in my mind that if he didn't ask me, I was going to ask him! I think I would have too. I didn't want to miss the opportunity! I knew a good thing when I saw it!

I knew a good thing when I saw it!

This week, my husband and I traveled back to our beginning place, our first date, Zoe prom at an endearing dinner theatre in Northville, and there we reminisced over dinner about the beginning. The phone call, what we wore, what car he drove to pick me up, who rode with with us to prom, where we parked, what the play was about, did we eat before or after, where did we sit. Things we hadn't thought about or really talked about in quite awhile. I even found a picture from that day, and had my Dad print it out for us. It was fun to see how much we have changed! You forget what life looks and feels like at seventeen!

We reminisced over dinner about the beginning

Seventeen had very little cares or worries. We talked about that over dinner as we sat outside a little banquet room where a high school group was celebrating their year of accomplishments. We laughed as we asked ourselves, "Did we know what we were getting ourselves into?" No, probably not. The greatest laugh of the night came from looking at all the leftovers on our table. It was a seven course, family style meal with way too much food leftover. Twenty years ago, we wouldn't have even thought of taking the food home. We were at prom, but my husband said he was thinking lunch for tomorrow. Oh how life has changed!

But really it was good to look back and remember how it all began. An attraction that lead to love built on the foundation of God that has helped weather the seasons of life. I'm so grateful. Though so far from perfect, I wouldn't change a bit of the journey for it has lead me to now and a bright future.

An attraction that lead to love built on the foundation of God that has helped weather the seasons of life.

I penned a poem that I read to my husband at the end of the night that captured my thoughts looking back and looking ahead with great anticipation. I'm so in love with this man and grateful for the twenty years in the making.

Twenty years of laughter

Began with one date

You asked me out to prom

And I couldn't wait

Who knew that twenty years ago

One date would lead to another

A ring, a wedding

Then making me a mother

In life there's many seasons

Some more difficult than others

Twenty years has a way 

Of teaching you about another

Twenty years of holding hands

And walking this road together

I know with every step

You've made me all the better

So hello twenty years

We celebrate you today

We made it, we conquered

We look back and say

Twenty years in the making

God knew it from the start

I look forward to the rest of my life

And loving you with all my heart

Dedicated to my amazing husband, Michael, who has become my life partner and has loved me with an unconditional love. Forever grateful!