7 Years BABY!!!

Seven years ago today, my life changed forever—in such a great way—It was on this day seven years ago that I married the most amazing woman ever. I heard someone use a phrase a few weeks ago that accurately portrays my Heidita and that phrase is that she is a Proverbs 32 woman. If you know that Proverbs, you know that there are only 31 chapters and in that last chapter, the writer talks about the qualities and attributes of a Godly woman. Well, my Heidita is that and a whole lot more—so she is a Proverbs 32 woman. And in her honor and in honor of the most amazing last seven years, I want to share with you my top seven memories.

1. I’ll start with my favorite vacations. Our first year being married, we took off to New York City during the Christmas season. This might be the best trip we ever took (all the tourist attraction, which included a couple of Broadway shows)and the coldest…The next year, we took off to the Bahamas on about a weeks notice—it’s amazing how free you are without kids!!! Every year since we have been married (including as recent as two weeks ago) we travel to the beach at Gulf Shores, AL. My aunt has a house there so it is our free vacation spot—can’t beat that! I used to not be such a big fan of the beach but Heidi wore me down and I love the beach. I think my favorite pat of the beach is playing with my kids. There have been so many different trips that we have taken and some great memories, but the last one that I’ll share is this past year, we trekked to Savannah for a few days. WOW. If you haven’t been to Savannah, it’s really cool and you should go.

2. One of my favorite things about my wife is the way in which she treats people. She has a heart for people and I believe that you feel valued when you are in my wife’s presence. Just last night we were talking about her day and she told me how she met this older man while helping a friend work at the Mart in ATL for a few days. This older man shared his life story with her about being a gay man who had aids. Heidi listened to him as he shared his heart with her and she in return shared her heart back with him and encouraged him that God still loves him. When they parted, he told her that he believes that she might just be the nicest person in the world. I concur. This example is just one of many—Heidita treats everyone as she would want to be treated and that is why I adore her.

3. I love her because she (and we as a family) has sacrificed so that she could be a stay at home mom. This entire past year while we have lived in Newnan, she has been a stay at home mom and we couldn’t be happier. Yes, it takes some creativity to make finances work, but in the end, the rewards are priceless. With her staying at home, the kids enjoy life more because mommy is always around and I enjoy her having an open schedule because she is free to help me love on middle school kids—and that is what she does. She loves on her own kids and on our middle school kids and they love her!!! I have always told people when I interview for jobs that you might not like me, but I can guarantee that you will love my wife—that is the truth!!!

4. One of my all time top memories with my wife is broken up into two events—that’s because we have two kids. I am so blessed to have such adorable and amazing kids. The day that my kids were born has to be a top memory for me. And the next best day has been every day since with them. I can remember the day they were born like it was today and it pumps me up so much that I want to do it again at least two more times!!! So pray for us because we want more kids—I’m currently praying for twins—Heidi is not!

5. One of the things that I love about my wife is that she is generous. In our seven years together, she has given away so much stuff and prepared countless amounts of meals for people who were in need or who had just had a baby or just because Heidi wanted to show them love. As I think about her generosity and memories, the thing that tops the list is the thing that she shared with me last week. I can’t share the God-given and inspired idea that she had but let’s just say that she rocks my face off when it comes to being generous!!!

6. This last memory came even before we were married and really even before me started dating—and has meant the world to me. When I met Heidi in college, I had just been ‘dumped’ by a girl and I was heart-broken and ‘gun-shy’ about dating—the perfect time to meet the girl of your dreams, right? Well, that’s what happened—I met Heidi and I liked her but was scared of being hurt again. We hung out and I knew that this friendship was about to go to the next level—so I took her out with the thought of telling her that I liked her but that this would just remain a friendship and nothing else—and that is what I did. Do you what her response was? She looked me in the eyes and said the coolest thing, she said, that’s okay, I’m not going to give up on you!!! WOW. And from that moment on, I knew that there was something special about her and that statement single-handedly changed my heart. And the night that I thought was going to be the night where we parted ways ended up being our first date! I share that memory with you (and Heidi might not like me sharing that with you) so you can see the kind of person Heidita has always been for me…She has always supported me and she has never given up on me. I admit that I have many flaws and Heidita has been a prayer warrior on my behalf. There is not a doubt in my mind that my wife does not pray for me on a daily basis. (Just a word to those of you whose spouse might not be all that you desire them to be: Heidita does not nag me to get me to change, she prays and I can tell you that it works!). I can never thank you Heidita enough for your support of me…This morning as I drove to work, I was praying and thanking God for my wife and the way she supports me and I was reminded about a season in which her support was at its best. About two years ago, I knew God was calling me to leave my job as a youth pastor in Athens and to follow Him in a different direction. That different direction is where we have been for the last year—working as the middle school pastor at Crossroads Church in Newnan, Ga. But as you can see from my timeline, there was about a year from the time I left my old job to the time I started my new job—for a part of that time, I didn’t have a job, most of that time I was going back to school to get my Master’s degree, and during that time, Heidi was the financial provider for our family—but she never once complained, rather she lavished me with her support to follow God in whatever He was doing in our life. When the call came to take the job in Newnan, I asked her if she was okay with selling the first house we had ever bought, and moving away from all our great friends. Once again, she supported me as I followed the calling of God…Long story short, we are as happy as we ever have been and the reason why is because we followed God and because I had the support of the amazing woman every step of the way! Thank you Heidita for never giving upon me.

7. Instead of giving you a number seven best memory with Heidita, I will just leave this spot open for all the memories that are still to come. It’s been seven years baby, and I can’t wait to spend the next sixty with you!!! You are the love of my life and I am truly a blessed man!