January 2, 2008 12:47 PM
Happy Anniversary, Tripp!
Today is our 25th anniversary.
When I think back on how lost we were when we got married - and how little He had to work with - I can hardly believe that God made something so meaningful and useful out of our lives.
Discovering the day after Christmas that I was pregnant, Tripp decided we should get married right away. I see God's hand in that, as neither Tripp nor I had any moral reason compelling us to make that kind of commitment. Both of us had been through abortion in other relationships before we met. I hope you understand why I feel compelled to share that - as a sign that there was something supernatural about our decision to marry.
One week later we ran away to Jenner-by-the-Sea, where we were married by an innkeeper on a deck overlooking the spot where the Russian River flows into the Pacific Ocean. It was sunset and my flowers were picked from the side of the road by my friend Debbie. Debbie and Danny were our witnesses.
Later, Tripp's mother gave us a reception. We sent these announcements:
I found the verse at the bottom in the Bible - Ephesians 2:14. I don't even remember how I got there, as neither Tripp nor I were Bible readers (see story here). That just seems like something God planted so that in retrospect, when we asked ourselves what in the world we wee thinking, we would understand that we were part of God working out a plan involving many more lives than our own.
Besides finishing in the raising of Samantha and Jasmine - who were 14 and 8 when we married, Tripp and I went on to have 10 more children of our own - seven by birth and three by adoption.
On March 21, 1987, we became Christians and have spent 20 years in evangelicalism. Today we are in the process of finding our spiritual home in the Catholic Church (details here).
Tripp and I have been through many adventures, including building a business together, learning to raise kids with disabilities, adoption, and moving cross-country. Ours has not been an easy marriage. We are both oldest children, ENTJ and ESTJ, and we didn't come into our marriage with a lot of - as Napoleon Dynamite puts it - skills.
But we have had a strong commitment to each other, to our family, and above all to God. Which makes us firm believers in the importance of commitment. Honoring that commitment saw us through some very tough emotional times. Today I can say I love Tripp more than ever.
Wherever you are in your marriage, my message to you is to take heart, never give up, and surrender your marriage to a higher purpose. If God could do what He's done with our lives, He can do it in yours too.
Happy Anniversary, Tripp! May we celebrate many, many more!
Posted in Family, Marriage | Permalink
Comments
Hooray for you both Barbara! Here's to 25 more (raising my glass of eggnog to you)!
Posted by: Imajackson | January 2, 2008 1:36 PM
Happy anniversary, Tripp and Barbara. I want you to know that your story NEVER fails to encourage and motivate and CHALLENGE me onward! I never grow tired of reading it, too. The work that the Lord Jesus Christ has done in your lives is amazing!
Posted by: Holly | January 2, 2008 2:26 PM
Congrats -- may your shared journey culminate in that ultimate wedding feast to which we all aspire!
Posted by: Monica | January 2, 2008 5:50 PM
Happy Anniversary!
This past Sunday was the feast of the Holy Family!
May the Holy family bless your family protect & bless your family always.
Also, today is the feast day of St. Basil the Great! May He intercede for you all!
O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all your
necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine
Will that she should help in every kind of necessity. - Saint Basil the Great
St. Basil said: “The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.â€
Posted by: mm | January 2, 2008 7:48 PM
Very nicely said! :) A very Happy Anniversary to you both! :)
Posted by: Stephanie | January 2, 2008 9:57 PM
Wow, reading this proved to me once again that there is always so much more to someone's life story than meets the eye - thank you so much for sharing this part of God's hand in your life. To Him be the glory!
Posted by: Kristi | January 2, 2008 10:55 PM
I am using your book, Mommy Teach Me right now and consider you a God-send. I'm thankful that you have allowed your lives to be shaped thus far. Thank you for all you do and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!
Posted by: April | January 3, 2008 10:12 PM
Happy Anniversary!! One of the reasons I visit your blog is that our lives have many parallels. This time 24 years ago I was pregnant, unwed and soon to be homeless! God has been so amazing in our lives. We have been married 23 years, have 8 children, and will welcome our first grandchild into our family. I agree with your comment on hanging in there. If we had not stuck it out, we would not have gotten to the beautiful gift of our relationship now! Bless you both!
Posted by: Becky | January 4, 2008 10:16 AM
Happy anniversary, Barbara! What a wonderful picture, and what a beautiful couple!
Posted by: Kathleen Popa | January 4, 2008 11:14 AM
