The Silver Lining~ 25th Anniversary

On the first day of summer and the longest day of the year,

I get to celebrate 25 years of loving my precious husband!

Today is our 25th silver wedding anniversary

and I sit thinking, reminiscing, and being thankful for silver linings...

In the song Josh sang Sunday, some of the lyrics say~

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think its more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining~

We have had some of the sweetest moments in our marriage

(births and adoptions)

and some of the saddest as well

(deaths and moves)...

all working together to make us who and where we are.

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do.

Scott and I are celebrating by being at home doing the normal things of life.

He is working in his home office.

I am taking care of children and doing house chores.

The thing that makes our marriage so strong

is not putting huge expectations on the other person.

We always thought we'd go away for an extravagant vacation to Hawaii

but instead we are home living life anticipating

our 'vacation' to China coming later in the year. :)

Sad? NO~ exactly where God would have us be!!!

Thought I would share a few of the silver lining moments in our last 25 years.

Our very first picture ever taken together in 1983~

Dated 3 years of my college years~

Got engaged in November of 1985~

My engagement announcement photo.

Rehearsal Dinner photo~

Married June 21, 1986~

Honeymoon bound~

Had our first baby, Savannah in 1989~

Amelia came in 1992~

Rosie was born in 1995~

Sarah Lenox and Parker were born and in Jesus' arms on their birthdays.

Then God began speaking to us about adoption.

In 2006, God sent us to China for EllaKate~

2010 God sent us back for ShayleeJoy~

This year we celebrated the marriage of Josh and Savannah~

becoming a bigger family with 5 daughters and one son~

and have SO much to look forward to...

sweet Will!!!

I am SO thankful God has allowed us silver linings over the last 25 years

and know He is just getting started!

The next 25 will be the best to come I am sure!!!

SO what are we doing to celebrate?

Living life at Lakeshore Drive with the blessings God has given us~

can't think of anything better!!!

James 1:17~

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.