6 Years.

Today, Nathan and I are celebrating 6 years of marriage. I cannot even describe what it feels like - its feels like its only be 3 years but it also feels like a lifetime. 

When I think back to 1998, when I met Nathan, we were both coming out of long-term high school relationships - "our first loves". I met him, officially, the weekend I gave my life to Christ. We were on a church retreat and he was the cutest one in the room. He radiated confidence, humor and love for the Lord. I actually have some old photos from that weekend (labor day 1998) but they are in Indy at my folks' house. I'll have to scan them in sometime.

I'll never forget the ups and downs of our "non" relationship. Nathan was a lady killer and refused to get into a long term relationship, despite us telling each other that we could see ourselves married - such insight at the age of 16 and 17!

We were so desperately in love, but we both knew that we had to go to school and grow into ourselves. Unknowingly, we we're destined to grow into ourselves and into each other, while growing up together. 

I'll never forget standing at my locker my senior year of school, telling my friends that we were supposed to be together and the looks on my best friend's face! I thought I was nuts too and that I was destined to have my heart broken. Not to say he didn't upon occasion (but I think we're both guilty of that)!

When Nathan asked me to marry him, we had been dating for 4 1/2 years. I knew I would be with him forever and that is all I wanted. I also knew (its an intuition thing) that our first child together would be a boy. Now, I know that sounds crazy - but whose laughing now!! ;-)

Once married, Nathan traveled and I worked in Carmel. We saw the world and were so desperately love-sick. I would miss him when he was on the road, but it was one of those things - we just did it. The longest stretch he ever did was 6 straight weeks. I'll never forget pulling up at the closest show to Indy (probably somewhere in Ohio) after 6 weeks of not seeing him, throwing the car in park and RUNNING and LEAPING into his arms. I think at that point, we knew that we couldn't live like that forever. 

Soon thereafter, Nathan's band Kids in the Way dissolved and he joined the crew for Third Day about 6 months later. I was starting a new job at Bucher and Christian and was VERY happy at my new job. We were ready to start a family and felt that the Holy Spirit was telling us it was time. 

After a three week trip to Italy, we began the baby-making process and conceived Jude in May 2008. 

So here we are,  6 years into marriage, 11 1/2 years into each other. I can't imagine my life any other way. Nathan and I have grown up together, but by the grace of God, we have grown toward one another and not apart. I can only describe it like this: Nathaniel Craig is my better half. Without him, I am incomplete. When I'm not with him, its like I'm not with me.

Cheers to this anniversary and at LEAST 58 more.