Nineteen Years|St. Augustine Getaway #Anniversary

At three years into our marriage, sometimes I didn't think we would make it. Grief had brought out the worst in us and threatened to tear us apart.

After experiencing the death of a dearly beloved family member in 2003, our marriage was about to shipwreck. We needed a lighthouse, a way to navigate around the dangers of conflict allowed to escalate beyond acceptable levels.

Pride has no place when two people promise to become one. In order for our marriage to survive, we needed to be humble enough to ask for help. That support came in the form of friends, family, our church, and marriage counseling. The lighthouse we needed was the grace of God, exemplified in Jesus Christ. God the Father always forgives us in light of Jesus who sacrificed Himself on the cross for our sins. If we believe this, we can forgive.

It was a fight to learn to stop fighting each other.

Five years later, by the grace of God, we came to terms of peace.

Halloween 2008

For our nineteenth wedding anniversary, we chose to immerse ourselves in Old Spanish Colonial Florida in St. Augustine. Having celebrated our anniversary here before, we were able to take stock in how far we've come in loving each other unconditionally.

Casa de Solana, the house of one of my ancestors

"Above all, love one another deeply" (1 Peter 4:8) 

Anastasia Island

In the middle of our rocky years, I never would have believed we could love each other again. I thank God for His amazing grace that keeps on shining His unconditional agape' love toward us, showing the way to peace.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).