I was never one of those girls who dreamed about getting married one day. I didn’t plan out my dream wedding, I didn’t fantasize over white dresses, I just plain did not care about marriage. It was scary to me. In a world filled with the 50% divorce rate and so much other brokenness, marriage was not one of my concerns. And I certainly did not desire to go to college, find a man, and marry him when I graduated. Thankfully, the Lord’s plans are so, so much bigger and better than my own.

Over two years ago, when our wedding date was fast approaching, I kept hearing the same thing…marriage is hard. Which by the way, so true. But somehow that’s all I heard. I knew that the Lord was calling us towards marriage so I was going to be faithful, but I was so terrified. If marriage reveals all of my sin and my secrets, isn’t David just going to run away? Aren’t we just going to be a part of the divorce rate? Now I knew these things weren’t true, but that fear was deep rooted in me. I looked towards May 26th with so much excitement, but always some fear. And as usual, I was so wrong.

I held onto the hardness of marriage, the sanctification, the struggle, but never the joy. What I didn’t realize is that I would get to spend everyday with my best friend. What I didn’t realize was that the struggle was alongside someone else, the best someone else. I didn’t realize that those exact things I was scared of: abandonment, condemnation, judgement; would be proved wrong in David. David would be the first to tell you that that is not because of anything he has done, but instead because of Jesus. In Jesus, the definition of Love changes. It casts out fear, it accepts unconditionally, and loves fiercely. David loves me in my sin, in my ugliness, at my worst. That is love.

I know it has only been two years, and it is not like I’m some expert at all; I actually realize that I know almost nothing. But I do know this, that marriage is worth it because of Jesus. Marriage is worth it when your husband pursues you like a precious treasure and loves you unconditionally. And that is why I’m thankful for David. These two years have been amazing because of how much we’ve laughed (aka a lot, like all the time), shared tears, stayed up all night, and mostly because of how I’ve come to understand the Gospel better because of David’s love for me.

Jobin, I love you so much. I can’t wait to see what is in store for year three.

My sister was gracious enough to go out to our wedding venue on our wedding anniversary and take some pictures of us. I put on my wedding getaway dress, put David in a bowtie, and off we went into the beautiful sunset. I love them! Thanks Kels.

Handsome man.

And because this is a more accurate representation of us in real life….