Married 10 Months!

9 Months of Marriage!

I LOVE MY BOY!

Russell took me out to Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner to celebrate the special occasion, and afterwards we went shopping and he bought me my birthday present...which I am SO excited about!!! (squeal) I am blessed! It's the best thing in the world to spend time with your favoritest person ever.

8 Happy Months!

7 Goodness-Filled Months!

I don't know how many times we've held hands since our wedding day, but it never gets old.

The Lord has been gracious to allows us 7 goodness-fill months together,

held securely in His hand.

Married 5 Months!

I'm so thankful God gave me such a wonderful husband. Each new day is an adventure as we discover more about each other and follow the path God has allowed us to travel together. I am constantly amazed at how perfectly we compliment each other---like a puzzle piece, a perfect fit! The Lord has surely prepared us all these years for now...for today. Thank You, Father!

4 months!

We've been married for 4 months! I LOVE my boy!

It just gets better and better. I never fail to be amazed at this wonderful thing called marriage. It is a precious gift! God is SO smart to have thought of creating it! Wow!

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 2:18-24

P.S. In the background of the picture you can see Russell's truck and our little trailer. Those are our bedroom windows.

One Year Ago...

Yesterday, one year ago...

Russell came to Holland to ask if he could court me with the intent of marriage!

July 14, 2009

It all started with Prince Charming on the far right...

then, 9 months and 3 days later....

Russell & Hannah became the bear bride & groom!

We've almost been married 3 whole months! Wow!

I never thought a year ago that I would be where I am today, or that I would be dealing with the things I am dealing with right now. Despite the devil's fierce opposition, GOD IS GOOD! In the last several weeks there have been times when it seemed like God was so far away. The Psalms have become my prayer when I haven't had the words to express my sorrow. This afternoon I was reminded of Russell's and my verse---the verse we claimed for our relationship:

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalms 27:13-14

This is another similar verse God has given me to cling to:

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psalms 31:24

This temporal world is a cruel place. Life isn't fair. People aren't fair. Circumstances aren't fair. Innocent people suffer while truly evil people get by with their wickedness. It seems so unjust. But there is a Judge in Heaven who judges righteous judgement. The wrongs that have been done will one day be made right, and true justice will prevail. In the past it has always been my parents who have dealt with the brunt of the suffering of the ministry. Now Russell & I are experiencing it first-hand. After 6 weeks of marriage life was just beginning to become scheduled...routine...organized, when our world was turned upside down by the ministry being forcibly shut down, false accusations, arrests, the loss of job and income, and the inability to get a new job because of the charges. One year ago I never would have imagined it... And still, in all the chaos, there has been such an overwhelming peace in my soul. I don't know what the future holds...but I know Who holds the future. This situation came as no surprise to God. "For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him." (Job 23:14 ) It is a comfort to know that long before this seeming disaster broke out, the Lord appointed it for us. It wasn't a surprise to Him, though we were surprised by it. He has a plan for us, even in this, and though we walk in present darkness, we believe to see the goodness of the LORD. "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me." (Psalms 56:9)

A couple weeks ago Russell and I tested something to see if it was God's will. We told the Lord we would know something was His will if He gave us $200, because we didn't have the finances to do it otherwise. Well, the very next day a letter arrived from my grandparents. Enclosed in the envelope was a $100 check for Russell's belated birthday. Even as I was opening the card and saw the $100 I inwardly battled with my flesh, hoping beyond hope that there would be at least another $100, yet not having the faith to believe it could really be possible. After all, why would God bother to look down from the heights of Heaven and hear ME??? I am nothing. I'm a O, written in pencil, and then easily erased. Folded inside the card was a separate letter, and inside I could see there was another check. Could it possibly be another $100???? No! It wasn't a $100 check. It was a $200 check!!! I was blown away...and how foolish that I should be when Russell and I had asked the Lord to give us that exact amount. Not only that, but I realized that the check was in the mail on its way down from New York before we ever asked God for $200.

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer;

and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Isaiah 65:24

Nobody can tell me there isn't a God,

and nobody can say the Bible isn't true.

Well, that whole story really had nothing to do with this post about 1 year ago, but I just couldn't help but brag on the Lord a little. ;) Russell may not have a job at the moment, and our bank account may be running a little low, but I know my God will never desert me. There has never been one day in my life that I did not have enough food to eat. The Lord has given me over and above my needs and has supplied even my wants. I am SO blessed!

It is well with my soul. The blood of Jesus Christ has washed away my sins, and not a person on this earth can take my salvation from me. Yes, they can hurt me physically and emotionally, but spiritually I have a foundation in Christ my LORD which can never be moved. It is well with my soul! Praise God!!!

2 Months!

It's hard to believe it's been just 2 months since that wonderful day.

For some reason it feels more like 2 years. So much has changed in such a short period of time.

God has blessed me with a wonderful husband. I used to think it was strange when couples who had been married for many years said they loved their spouse more later on in their marriage than they did on their wedding day. Now I understand. I love Russell more now than I did when I married him 2 months ago. Next month I will love him more than I did this month. Love just grows. You can't measure love, because just when you think you have discovered it to the fullest extent you find that it has grown yet again!

Love is like an ancient castle and each room filled with untold treasures. Just when you open one door and marvel at its wealth, you discover yet another door leading to a room with even greater riches. If rusty old doorknobs represented trials and testing, and each new room discovered represents a greater degree of love, then it only gets better with each knob you turn. The more effort it takes to open the door the more appreciation you have for the contents within. Russell's love for me becomes more amazing with every trial we come through. It is those rusty old doorknobs that make our love grow stronger and more beautiful as we enter the next level of loving one another.

One Month Anniversary!

The Lord has blessed me beyond anything I could have imagined or deserve. Today I have been married for a month. The time has flown by!!! Next to salvation, marriage is the best thing God ever made possible for humans to enjoy. I am so thankful for my sweet, godly, loving husband. I could not have gotten better! Yesterday evening I went out to dinner with my in-laws and they told me something that thrilled me. They said that since our marriage they have seen me complete Russell. I get the privilege of completing this precious man as his helpmeet. (Genesis 2:18 -- "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.") I have always believed being a wife, homemaker, and mother is the highest goal and career a woman can have. God put that desire in every woman's heart---whether she chooses to admit it or not. Now I have been married for 1 month, and I can say from personal experience that being a wife and homemaker is the greatest and best!!! I never dreamed it could be so busy, so fun, and so fulfilling. It's a 24/7 job, but the pay is pure love. What more could anyone want? I love cleaning my little house, washing the laundry, and cooking good meals for my hubby. His reaction is worth the hard work and time spent.

I know of girls who would give anything for what I have--a cozy home and a loving husband. For some reason--I'll never know why!--God saw fit to look down from Heaven on this little wisp of a girl and shower His richest blessings down all over me. THANK YOU, LORD, for your blessings on me!!!

Russell surprised me after church on Wednesday and came home with these roses. He is so thoughtful and sweet! Yes, that is one word that describes Russell--thoughtful.

May the bud of our love grow richer and sweeter,
As we walk hand-in-hand behind our Great Leader.
For God's love is what binds our two hearts as one,
In this strength and His power our lives we've begun.

Our one month anniversary!

Praise God! He is good!