Her smile remains the same after 30 years, but my love for the person behind the smile has grown exponentially.
I met her at Carson-Newman University in the fall of 1989.
Over the course of the next four years, God allowed me to fall in love with the most wonderful woman, at that time I could not have imagined how wonderful.
The 4 years in college were great, but the real adventure started on August 13, 1993.
I know that many people have happy marriages, but I just do not believe that anyone, anywhere has a happier, more laughter-filled, trusting, fun, effective, marriage that we do, and I give JoAnne most of the credit.
She works hard. Very hard. Shopping for our food so we don’t eat out too much. Keeping the house clean, but also keeping it warm and inviting. Allowing our kids to discover their strengths while still maintaining some level of personal responsibility. Even though 3 of our 4 kids have moved out of the house, she works hard to create an environment where they WANT to return and visit – and maybe bring a friend or two.
She takes care of herself. She works out every morning. She makes sure she has enough rest. She reads and studies her Bible. She laughs often. She enjoys life and it rubs off on those around her.
She is a great listener.
She is willing to be silly and go on adventures at a moments notice.
She has maintained her radiant beauty and intoxicating smile for the entire duration of our 30-years of marriage. (we wont count the last month of any of the 4 pregnancies)
She is SO fun to go on trips with.
She is wonderful to stay at home with.
She LOVES her people hard. Deathly loyal. Turns into Mama Bear when she feels any of her people are in danger. Everyone in her life is blessed to be there, and I am the most blessed.
A gift from God
In the Bible, in the book of Proverbs there a couple of verses that point to her and who she is and what she means to me and our family.
Proverbs 19:14 says that we can inherit all kinds of things from our parents, but the man that has an excellent wife, a prudent wife – that wife is a gift straight from the Lord.
Proverbs 31:10 asks the question: “An excellent wife, who can find?” This directs us back to Proverbs 19. You can’t find her, she must be gifted by the Lord himself.
Proverbs 31:10 goes on to say that an excellent wife is FAR MORE precious than rubies or jewels.
In the comparison to rubies or jewels, we know that rubies are rare, jewels are valuable, rubies and jewels are truly unique and beautiful, and we know being in the presence of those rare jewels tends to make you smile.
This is my life
I am honored to be married to one of those rare, beautiful, unique and highly valuable gifts from God. The first 30 years have truly been way more than I could have dreamed. I can’t even conjure up in my mind how wonderful the next 30 years will be!
