Sappy Memories

On Friday Rob and I will be celebrating 16 years of marriage! Thinking on this has caused me to think back to how it all began! My brother Aaron, and Rob's sister Kristie wanted to go to the State Fair and our Mother's would not let them go without a chaperon. So the two of us were CONNED into going:) Who would have thought that 2 years later we would be married. In August we will have been together (including dating years) HALF of our lives!!

God allowed me to marry my best friend, and we are still best friends today! In April of 1998 we said goodbye to my Dad. That was one of the hardest things I had to do until the following May when I lost our first child. I was so excited, and it was so hard to go through at the time. We then found out I had endometriosis and had to have surgery to remove it, and then the Doctor said if I didn't get pregnant within a year I probably would never have kids without help. In April of 2000 God called us to go to Florida and work in a Boarding school for troubled teens. This was a wonderful time in our life. We left Indiana in October of 2000 to train in Missouri. In February of 2001 we arrived in FL. Two years had passed since the miscarriage so I had given up hope of ever having a child of our own. In April of 2001, Rob was in TN when I found out I was pregnant with Hannah! She arrived in January of 02. In November of 2002 we found out I was pregnant with Elizabeth. She arrived in July of 03. In May of 04 God moved us back to Indiana. In October we found out God was blessing us again with Rachel. In Feb of 05 we said goodbye to Rob's Grandma Beaver. At the end of May God blessed us with the home we live in now. Rachel arrived 2 weeks after we moved in. I will spare the details of the next three children, but know that we feel each is a direct blessing from God, ESPECIALLY when we look back to 1999 when we were told it was possible we would have no children. I will always praise His name for my kiddos. They are not burdens but blessings from God. I never dreamed we would have 6, but God is so good to me!

I am blessed to get to be home and teach my children. I have a husband that works hard to make it happen, and I know he sometimes sacrifices things that he would want so that he can provide for his family. I never want to take that for granted!  I know there are people who think we are crazy because we have 6 blessings, but they are MY blessings that God has entrusted to me and I will love and raise each one the best way I can!