It hasn't always been easy.

There are times when life tries to knock you down. It comes in different shapes and forms. But I have learned these are all trials and how you react to them is where your true character shows. I feel like I am on the mountain top and the scenery around me is full of beauty. I know trouble will come, it always does! But for this moment I am basking in the blessings bestowed upon our family. I am encouraged by the growth in our family with Jesus Christ. I am thankful for our church family that encourages that growth. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is forgiveness. I will always remember the harsh words people said to me. I will always remember that high school bully who tormented me. I will always remember those people I cared for deeply that turned their back and walked away, but I truly have forgiven them. It has taken time but now understand some people just aren't meant to be in our lives forever, no matter how bad we want them to be.

In the past I have reacted out of hurt, when I hurt I speak. Absolutely the wrong thing to do. Because when you speak before you think your words aren't clear and even less are your emotions. You will say things you don't mean and even through those words you can lose friends. It's happened before, but my prayer is that I won't lose friends to my loose cannon.

When I think about how my mouth has disrespected my husband it breaks my heart. I was harsh and cruel to him over the years. Some may say he deserved it, but in doing so I was not honoring God. and if there is anything I have learned over the past couple of years I need to do more of that. Which I have. Our love has grown so much over these past few years. My husband use to question my love him when we would argue when he had been drinking and I remember telling you I love you but I don't like you. I know it was a hurtful thing to say but there was so much hurt in both of our heart I think we already knew what the other was thinking or feeling.

 (I am so sorry Honey, for all my hurtful words but I am thankful that we are here standing strong today with all we have been through sobriety still intact I am so proud of you everyday!)

The other day we were driving down the road and that subject came up and I shared with him that "I really, really, really liked him again." We have been constructing our home, not our house but our home again. Building it step by step with kind words, affection, and spending time together. We have dated more in the past year than we probably ever have, and here is the best part we enjoyed it. We lost so much but in reality we have gained so much more. We gained a brand new life. We succeeded in not getting a divorce. We have served as a family feeding the homeless. We have been humbled. We have been blessed. Our strength is in giving to the Lord and our hope is in him. We may never be a perfect couple, we may never have the perfect kids, or family but one thing is for sure we are going to try our best to raise Godly kids and continue to strengthen our marriage in any way we can.