Eighteen years. Somehow it feels like it’s flown by… and yet, when I look back at everything we’ve walked through together, it feels like we’ve lived a lifetime in these years—side by side, hand in hand, hearts fully in it together.

We met as teenagers—two kids who spent endless hours at church, youth group, and every activity in between. We were friends first, the very best kind, and somewhere deep down we both knew even then that something special was unfolding. It’s funny how God knits stories together long before we realize it. Looking back now, it’s clear as day: we were soulmates from the start.

Over eighteen years of marriage, we’ve lived a full and beautiful (and sometimes chaotic) life. We survived grad school with all its stress and late nights. We moved—more than once. We welcomed three wonderful kids who have filled our home with noise, joy, and the kind of love that stretches and strengthens you in the best possible ways. We tackled a major home renovation that tested every ounce of patience either of us had left, but we made it through, wiser and proud of what we built together.

And then there’s the musician’s life we’ve lived—gig after gig, late nights turning into early mornings, schedules that never quite line up, and still trying to keep up with busy kids and their needs. It hasn’t always been easy. Honestly, sometimes it feels like juggling flaming swords while balancing on one foot. But we made it work, because that’s what we do. We adapt, support, and show up for each other—even when we’re exhausted, even when life feels heavy.

We’ve walked through hardships, heartbreaks, and losses that brought us to our knees. But every single time, we found our way back to each other with deeper love, deeper understanding, and deeper gratitude. Marriage isn’t just loving someone through the easy days. It’s choosing them—over and over—when life is messy, complicated, loud, and unpredictable. And that’s exactly what we’ve done.

I love our kids fiercely, and I love the family we’ve built, but nothing would work—none of this would exist—without the foundation we laid together. I’m incredibly proud of us. I’m grateful for the laughter, the inside jokes, the stolen moments of quiet in a loud house, the shared dreams, and the way you still look at me like you did when we were seventeen.

We don’t just love each other—we genuinely like each other. And that, honestly, is one of the biggest blessings. Love gets you through the tough stuff. Liking each other makes the day-to-day joyful.

As we celebrate eighteen years of marriage, my heart is full. I’m proud to be married to the man God chose for me. I’m grateful for every chapter—past, present, and the ones still being written. And I’m excited for all that’s ahead… more adventures, more memories, more love.

Cheers to us—eighteen years in, forever to go.