Hello Blogger.

Today is my 5 year anniversary.  I met Tessa June of 2008, and we started dating August 2008, when she returned from a trip to England to see where her mom's ashes had been scattered and a mission trip to Costa Rica.  I asked her to marry me with a big surprise event Easter of 2009, and we got married just after that Christmas 2009, technically Dec. 27.  It has been a thrill ride.

I just finished going back and looking at my blog, my livejournal, my facebook wall, my wife's facebook wall, and my facebook messages.  Nothing!  I mean, everything, but I was looking for my thoughts!  What was I feeling at that time?  What did I say to her, or she to me?  I barely found anything until after we had been married a few months.  There are lots of pictures, lots of adventures, lots of life happening, but not a whole lot I can quote.  I wanted it for a card, something to write to my wife in a card, right now, to give to her either before she goes to sleep, or more likely, to place strategically for when she wakes up.

Needless to say, I need to find a quote.  I'm thinking the Bible will be a good place to go.  Don't move, blogger.  I'm going to practice here before I write on the card.  It's made with Austrian crystals on the cover, so let's make it something work keeping.

"Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord;
The fruit of the womb is a reward" (Psalm 127, 1-3).

"Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along.
For behold, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
The flowers have already appeared in the land;
The time has arrived for pruning the vines,
And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.
The fig tree has ripened its figs,
And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance.
Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along!" (Song of Solomon 2, 10-13).

My love, I fell for you for many reasons.  One of the biggest reasons is that I believed in the life that we together dreamed.  I believe it still.  Though, perhaps I had forgotten to keep dreaming.  Looking back at all that I could find about our years together (on facebook mostly), I was reminded of the adventures we shared, the quests we completed, and the quests we yet pursue.  Family, a welcoming home, solid careers and an infectious faith.  I don't know if they are tarnished, but it is nothing that a little work (more on my part) can't help to shine again.  The Lord has built our house and guards us, and it is the spring time of our lives.  Come, beloved, let us tend the gardens of home and faith, together, as He meant it to be.

(Ok, time to put all that in the card!  Goodnight, blogger).