Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale...

This past week we celebrated our first wedding anniversary! We were married July 9, 2005. A year ago today we were stretched out on a California beach and now here we are a year later in the north woods! :)

As I look back on the past few years and reflect on the journey that God has brought us through to bring us to where we are today, I am in awe of His wisdom and grace that He has made so apparent every step of the way. We met here at Northland when Jordan was a sophomore and I was a freshman (Fall ’02). We decided to take things very slowly, so we were ‘just friends’ for that first year. (If you’ve ever been to a Bible college for any length of time, you know there is no such thing as ‘just friends’ on a college campus, but at least we tried!) The following summer (’03) we both worked camp, and about half-way through the summer we started ‘dating’ (or ‘dourting,’ for those of you who have convictions about the word ‘dating’). J That fall Jordan traveled for Northland’s Ministry team and we kept up with each other by letters and phone calls. It was during that time that I really began to feel that Jordan was the man that God wanted me to be with for the rest of my life! The following summer I traveled for Northland while Jordan did an internship at Highland Baptist Church in Parkesburg, PA. We both got back to our homes at the beginning of August and I went to visit Jordan in Iowa a couple weeks later. On August 19, 2004, in Guttenberg, Iowa, Jordan proposed to me on the banks of the Mississippi River. I was completely surprised! When Jordan got down on one knee, my response was 'Nu-uh!' 'Nu-uh!' and 'Are you serious?' 'Do you have a ring?' 'Did you ask my mom?' (Yes, I really asked him if he had asked my mom! I’m such a dork!) Jordan had to ask me twice before I finally said YES! Almost 11 months later, we were standing at the altar in my home church in Granada, MN, saying our vows!

This year it has been amazing to see how God has displayed His sovereignty in our lives. I don’t think that it has ever been so apparent to me that God has a purpose in everything that He brings across our paths. Every time I reflect on the last four years since Jordan and I have known one another, I can see so many simple things that God gave to us or brought us through that prepared us for what we are doing today and what He wants us to do for the rest of our lives. I am so thankful for God’s utmost wisdom and goodness in bringing us together. It would simply take too long for me to detail every blessing and every lesson that has been learned, but I want to give glory to God today for our first year of marriage.

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; declare among the peoples His deeds. (from Psalm 9)

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want….They who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing. (from Psalm 34)

You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever. For Your lovingkindness toward me is great. (from Psalm 86)