Twelve

Today Jeremy and I celebrate twelve years of marriage!

I am going to attempt to write twelve things about you, Jeremy Grey Gibson, that I love.....

 Devoted: You are so devoted to me and to our girls.  As the years go by, I marvel at your care for us.  Just last night I stopped to think for a second about how you go the extra mile.  Often something little, many times it's something big.  

 Journey: God has taken us on quite a journey over the past few years.  A friend a I were recounting today how over and over God has called our family to trust Him. period. He hasn't shown us His plan yet He has asked us to follow.  And you have followed well.  You have led our family through these years with faith and trust, knowing God's plan is better than ours.

 Love: You love me, seriously.  I don't know how or why you do.  I definitely don't deserve it. I am selfish and hateful and lots of other things.  Yet, I never ever have to doubt that you.love.me.  Thank you for that.  What a comfort to hear it from your lips everyday, and to sense it even when you aren't saying it. wow.

Integrity: You have  amazing integrity. ( You all know by now, he got laid off at the end of November.  It was a shock.)  But you marched right back into the office the next day.  Why?  Because you wanted to shake hands with each and every person in that office and tell them goodbye personally.  You told me you wanted to encourage them.  Our friend that works there also called you to tell you how everyone was commenting on how you he handled yourself.  I praise the Lord for your integrity.  Glory to Him.

 Goofball: Oh yes, you know he is!  I love how you make me laugh, everyday.  I always crack up at something you are doing or saying.  Whether it's a stupid joke or one of the million crazy things you do.  I.love.laughing.with.you.  You make life fun.

Hardworker: I know I say this every year.  But you just go above and beyond in this area.  Since the second you were laid off you have worked your buns off trying to find another job.  Thank you.  Really.  You never took "me time." You never asked for a break of any kind.  You got right to work.  They say the hardest job is looking for a job, and I totally agree!

 Friend: By God's grace, I feel we are becoming better and better friends.  Especially over this past year, I think God has really turned my heart towards you.  I have enjoyed our time together.  Whether it's talking or watching a silly movie, our time together has been sweet.

Goofball: Oh, I already said that.

Patience: Wow you have a ton of patience!  Patience to wait on the Lord. And certainly patience to put up with me.  When I am struggling you are often amazingly patient with me as I work through my sin.  You don't say much, you just wait till I'm ready.  I appreciate that.  And patience to wait on the Lord.  That really goes along with the journey He's called us to. You are walking it out with patience, trusting Him to guide us in the right direction.  And He will.

Gentle: You are such a gentle man.  One of the reasons I believe you have been given all girls:)  The way you care for them is so neat to watch.  I just love to sit back and watch you talk to them.  Whether you are teaching them something, or correcting them.  Your gentleness is noteworthy.

Diligent: You are diligent with our girls as you seek to lead them in the way they should go. As you train them to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Communication: This has been the greatest struggle in our marriage from day one.  But by God's grace, I think we are getting somewhere!  I have enjoyed talking more and relating over the good, bad, and the ugly.

Respect: I respect you honey.  I respect you as my husband, as a Daddy, and as a child of God.

Sentimental:  This is one of my favorite characteristics about you.  Just now you brought me my present, in the box with that held my engagement ring 13 years ago.  It even has the hearts in that say "Marry me" (gross).  And you proceeded to cry as I opened it.  Awwwhhhh. You are so precious.  And I am glad you balance me out:) You cry, I laugh.  Just like our wedding day:) haha.  But as you sat here and cried, and I smiled and thanked you, all the characteristics above come flooding back.  This moment we just had is confirmation that are are indeed devoted, loving, caring, a hard worker, a man with integrity, a goofball, worthy of respect, patient, gentle, and diligent.

  I love you buddy.  And I pray that I get to be your wife for many many more years.
              Lindsay

Happy 10th Anniversary

Ten years ago today at 2 pm, Jeremy and I said our vows.  That seems crazy to me!  I can't believe we've been married that long.

"Do you Lindsay take Jeremy to be your husband? To live together after God's ordinance-in the holy estate of matrimony?  Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?

YES, I DO.  I ABSOLUTELY STILL DO!

But even more than what I promise to do, I want to honor you, Jeremy Grey Gibson for the way you have upheld these vows in our marriage. (Ya'll, seriously....I married up! This man rocks).  

Thank you for loving me unconditionally.  I am not the most easy to love, yet you excel at loving me anyway.  I have never questioned your love and devotion to me.  You are a constant.

 Thank you for loving and comforting me during sickness.  Obviously this is at the forefront of my mind right now.  My you have gone above and beyond the call to serve and love your family and wife during these past several weeks.  Having pregnancy sickness is new territory for us but you have risen to the occasion.  You have cooked every meal, or at least heated it up;), cared for the girls mostly by yourself once you get home, you have cleaned for me, gone to the store, ran other errands, prayed for me, and been by my side.  I can't thank you enough.  And of course, when I have a migraine, you drop whatever you are doing to care for me and the girls.  No complaining, you just do it.  You are my hero.

 "For richer, for poorer," Because of your gift of money managing, we have been very blessed in this department. God has always provided far and above what we have needed.  Thank you for giving it away!  For being so generous with what God has given us.  Whether it's helping with an adoption, giving to World Vision, which you have done for 8 years now!, supporting our friends in Crusade, pro-life causes, or whatever it may be- you give freely.  I really appreciate that about you.

"For better, for worse," I can't recall much "worse" in our marriage.  Again, due to your humility and desire to please the Lord as you lead our family.  There have been lots of "betters."  It's been a privilege to share them with you as my husband.  Several of the betters for me are, our wedding day, our honeymoon in Jamaica, the day we held our little Gracie for the first time, the day we met Piper and snuggled her, the day we purchased this land, our dream.  I look forward to so many more "betters" with you.  And I know the "worses" will come and we will weather those too.

"To cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion."  Well obviously, I think you excel at this.  You are devoted to me and to the girls like no man I have ever seen.  Thank you for being willing to do whatever it takes to care for us.  Lately, this has meant a ton of extra work for you.  Wow you are one devoted man!

"Keeping yourself only to her as long as you both shall live."  Thank you for taking this seriously in this day and time.  Thank you for keeping yourself only for me, both before we were married and now.  I do not take it lightly and I know the temptations are tremendous.

  

  Told you I married up!  Happy Anniversary my dear husband.  I love you tons.

                Yours Forever,

                        Lindsay

Happy Anniversary Buddy!

I have been trying to send this all day but image upload is down, it still is soooo...


My Love,

Happy Anniversary!! Nine years ago today we were wed! I was laying in bed last night with Gracie and she said, "Mommy, why did Daddy marry you?" I had to assure her that you trusted in God!

I am so glad you did marry me:) That you trusted the Lord to bring us together, though we are very different. I am so grateful to the Lord for placing us both at ECU at just the right time. It's pretty neat to ponder all the circumstances that He orchestrated to get us there at the same time. You are certainly the perfect man for me, in every way.

I would like to honor you this year for your diligence. It means "constant and persistent attention to one's work." I can't think of a better word to describe you over this past year. You have been so diligent. Of course you have been diligent at your full time job, but I am really talking about all the other hats that you wear, your other responsibilities. First of all, to our land development. I can't believe the time and attention you have had to devote to it. Much of the work has been added to you from other sources. Yet you have risen to the occasion and been so diligent to cross every "T" and dot every "I." I can say with confidence there is noone else I would trust to build my home! I know I'm biased but I know many would agree with me:) Then you also have another side job that you have worked very hard with. So much so that he keeps giving you more work! Just at a time when we needed it to make ends meet. Praise God that you were sensitive to the need to do this job. Yet with all this work you have been doing, we as a family haven't felt it as much as one would think. You have continued to help me with the girls and around the house, almost as much as you normally would. Thank you!!! This leads me to my final example of your diligence and one of the most important-your commitment to our family. Thank you for continuing to lead us and care for us. Your care has increased substantially as I have been in bed so much with migraines. I never hear you complain and I can tell that the girls absolutely love the time you spend with them. It is so hard for me to lay in bed and know that you have so much to do. Yet you make it easier for me by releasing me. And thank you for being diligent to help me follow the Drs orders even when I don't want to:)

So Buddy, you are my hero. I love you more and more every day and I thank God for you as often. Please know how grateful I am for you and your desire to serve the Lord in this difficult season that He has kindly placed us in. I love you TONS!!!!!