Number One.

Testing.  Testing.  One, two, three, four.  (When did that become the norm for microphone checks, anyway?)  Is this thing on?  (If it were up to me, mic checks would include quotations from Dumb and Dumber, The Office and Arrested Development.)

Hello.  My name is Adam, husband to mi esposa caliente, Jessica (pronounced Yessica); future father to a precious daughter (name to be revealed in a future blog); owner of a feisty and eccentric Yorkshire terrier named Buster; lover of comedy, music, reading, correct grammar and movies; worship leader at Cahaba Park Church; mandolinist/vocalist of acoustic Americana band, Act of Congress; teacher of several instruments; and blogger (will become true after this post).  Jessica (with a Y, remember) and I decided that it was high time that we started a blog; that our thoughts needed to be recorded and read by the masses (largely due to their genius insight); that one day in the future, we too, would want to reflect on our fondest memories and discoveries in our marriage and life together.  And so, it begins.

October 7, 2013. Yesterday marks our wedding anniversary of seven years.  I couldn't possibly sum up in a blog post the joy, comfort, encouragement and happiness that Jessica brings to my life.  The Lord has been extremely gracious in blessing me with a wife that continually seeks to know me - the obvious, distracted silence indicating a warring battle in my head and heart; the false look of sincerity that will inevitably become an uncontrollable smile; the never-ending ramblings that call for a listener, not a solver; the power of tender and loving arms that immediately return me to a place of belonging and acceptance;  the grace that floods my soul communicated in three simple words. I. Love. You.

Our marriage counselor encouraged me several years ago to live with my wife "in an understanding way." (1 Peter 3:7)  That challenge has changed my marriage and will continue to do so in the years to come.  

7 on the 7th

Yesterday was our 7th anniversary.  Seven whole years. It's hard to remember what life was like before Adam, yet it feels like our wedding was yesterday.  We were babies when we got married- 22 and 23- and I'm amazed looking back at the Lord's sovereignty in pulling us together.  I didn't know myself at all, much less what I needed in a husband (or what I needed to be as a wife). Now, a whole seven years later, I could not imagine myself with anyone else. This man has taught me how to forgive, how to serve, how to laugh (oh, how I needed this), how to trust, how to really love. A gentle leader, always seeking restoration in the middle of conflict, he is just what I need to be reminded of Jesus daily. He's quick to use those dimples and throw out a joke when things get too serious (which I'm often guilty of causing).  Nothing can put me at ease like that dimple-cornered smile.

After our dinner date last night I asked Adam what he treasured most about the last seven years.  He said that he felt the most known when he was with me, which was exactly what my answer would have been.  There is something amazing and gospel-reflecting about being fully known and fully loved.

Now for a little jaunt down memory lane...

Beginnings

I'm really good at beginnings. The planning, the ideas, the dreams...they all come easily and flow freely. It's the in between that always seems to trip me up. My inner pessimist is convinced that this blog will fall prey to old habits. But I'd never leave my house if I listened to my inner pessimist, so here we are.

I have several very important reasons for wanting to start a personal blog:

1. I need an escape for my pent up sarcasm.

2. I need to prove to Adam that I am, in fact, funny. He often doesn't believe me.

3. I need a place to post without the pressure of adding a million pictures (hello time sucker).

4. I need something to do when I am lying awake at 3:00am after my 4th trip to the bathroom (I'm pregnant, it happens).

Joking aside, I've been mulling over this idea for a while and am looking forward to having a place to  keep track of our little family. This seemed like a safer option than journaling alone, as I've managed to start then lose almost every journal I've ever attempted. Free amusement for whoever has happened upon those over the years. Also, I heard there's a service that can turn your blog into an album- I really hope that's a thing.

I'm attempting to recruit Adam to be my co-blogger. He's a great writer and I love his perspective. He's also the busiest person I know, so we'll see. (Sidenote: I just googled, "he's busier than..." to get a good idiom to end on. Big mistake- people are not polite on the world wide web, just in case you didn't know.)

On the title/address: one of the most meaningful verses to both Adam and me throughout our marriage has been Zephaniah 3:17.

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

We have been through some incredibly painful and difficult times in our almost 7 years of marriage. Looking back, we've seen that God was always near. I love the picture that this verse paints- God comes to us, dwells with us, brings us hope in our helplessness. That is the gospel. He is our pursuer and rescuer, our mighty one who saves. I think it's important to note verse 15, which says "the Lord is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil." It did not say, "you shall never again face evil." Jesus promised suffering and was very clear about the world's brokenness because of sin. BUT HE PROMISED HIMSELF, the perfect love that moves into our midst and casts out fear. No matter what has been or what will come, he is enough. There is a sweetness in passing through the fire and tangibly knowing his nearness.

We are both uneducated art lovers, so for our first piece of grown up art we commissioned an abstract of Zephaniah 3:17. It is one of my favorite things in our home. Our friend Wellon is a tremendous talent and we are thankful for her visual reminder of the gospel in our home.

I'm not entirely sure how much I'll publicize this thing (I have this unfortunate thing about buckling under the pressure of expectations). For now I'll just blog for me and those random googlers of things such as, "I'm pregnant, it happens," and "I am, in fact, funny."

Here's to hoping that this post doesn't need the subtitle, "...and endings."


(Of note: I typed this entire post thumb-text style on my iPhone. Just because I can.)