16TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Yes sir, it was 16 years ago today that Melinda and I were married at Marymoor Park in Redmond. I remember it like it was yesterday. We were young (21 and 18) and August 2nd was a Friday (love Friday weddings). We had some of our best friends and most of our families there for the festivities.
When it came time to exchange rings some of the guys played a practical joke on me. They took the ring off the ring bearer's pillow--Gabe Graumann was the ring bearer--and wrapped it in a Crackerjack box. When the minister asked for the ring no one could find it, but then Paul Jerome stood up in the crowd and said, "I got a Crackerjack box!" He threw it on stage, we opened it and proceeded with the service.
How do I describe what an amazing life I get to live with Melinda. In every way she is my perfect match and there is never a day that I do not give my 100% to our relationship. The reality is that everyday she is my superstar and every day I try to keep her at the pinnacle of who I am.
We met when we were in school, I asked her out one time and she said no, she was a part of my life when the Lord saved me at 19, and then one day I saw her at church and I knew she was the one for me. God whispered it in my ear so to speak. I went home and fasted for 7 days to purify my life. That next weekend when I saw her; it was finished, I was off the market.
We married 1 year and 4 months later. We were young, but totally ready to embrace life. We had cut a deal with our parents, "If we bless you to be married, then you two finish college." Just a month after our wedding, we headed to Central Washington University and it would be our home for the first 4 years of our married life.
I am so thankful for my help mate. She is my team mate, friend, confidant, stylist, helper, mistress, wife, lover, dreamer, musician, intercessor and so much more all wrapped in one person. I just couldn't ever imagine living without her. She truly captures the essence of being a woman of God and I could not be more blessed. This may surprise many of you, but in 16 years of marriage we have only raised our voices to each other one time--and sadly it was me. We've never left a dispute unsettled, or and argument unresolved. We have always considered it a privilege to be together and a commitment stronger than us; consequently, when I need her strength she is there and when she needs mine I deliver. There has never been a moment where I have considered another woman, not a day when I thought maybe I should be single. You can count on it. Melinda and Jeff will last for eternity. I know all the theologies about marriage and heaven and will we be together; I just hope they are wrong because living with this woman for 80 years of my life would never be long enough!
I want to also say Thank You to whoever paid for our dinner last night. We went to Daniel's Broiler (fav. Restaurant) and someone paid our bill. I tried to look around, but didn't know who it was. We just thanked the Lord for the harvest, as we have paid for others dinners many times in the past. Then we went car dreaming...didn't buy any...just looked...at Porsche, Vettes...you know the kind of cars a race car driver should drive...what should a pastor drive? Well that might be another post.
