Today Jon and I turn 3. Something about 3 shifts my perspective. This year was the best one yet, however it came with a little dose of everything laughter, excitement, exhilaration, but also pain, growth, and surrender. Most importantly though, love. It sounds gushy and it kind of is, but we had to fight through some hard battles that only made us draw closer to our Father and each other.
Between the work grind and uncertainty, my mental and physical health struggles, and loss in his family the reality of humanity and man’s depravity was all too real this third trip around the sun together. But the Lord’s faithfulness was real tenfold. On days where collapsing on the bed was all we could do, where exhaustion caused tension in each word we said, when differing personalities bucked up against each other God breathed life into each and every moment.
All He asked us to do was show up for each other, and enjoy the moments.
We fought for each other and beside each other with Jesus always at the helm, and the result is beautiful: another year together, another year falling in love with each other.
So this won’t be the longest blog post ever written, but if you take away anything I hope it is this: never stop listening, never stop encouraging, never stop showing up even when you feel like you have nothing to give. You might not see it now but those moments matter!
Ben Stuart said always have something to look forward to together – we experienced Disney differently than ever before, Thailand, San Francisco & the California coast, a sleepy North Carolina beach town, Chattanooga for yet a 3rd year in a row, and so much more. The adventures were grand, but also in this year, Kali entered into our lives, job shift happened for me – again, Jon became obsessed with Enneagram which really has improved our communication exponentially – it’s not just hype. We cheered each other on, me with running and him with music, we tried SO much new food and are quickly gaining foodie status, and made the most of small moments. And whether grand or insignificant there is something really special about the details that make it all up.
We explored new places and met new faces, reached new heights and new depths, and it all sounds so poetic, but it is. Love stories are poetic – just take the Bible.
We are expectant for what the next year holds knowing that in a new house and new neighborhood along with new serving roles things will change, but however the chips may fall I look forward to growing stronger together, taking wild leaps of faith and breathtaking adventures together.
So here I’ll be forever taking pictures of your food.
Happy Anniversary Jon Woodson!
Fueling Her Forward 