eight.

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Eight years ago today we started an incredible journey together.
we have been blessed through every season.

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Seasons full of love, fun, adventure, newness.
and seasons full of sickness, trial, struggle, and loss.

We have stuck with the vows to each other,
and the vow God made to us.
That He would never leave us or forsake us...
through the good and the bad, the rich and the poor,
the sickness and the health.

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Our desire at that ceremony 8 years ago tonight
was that the Lord would be worshipped.
Little did we know how prophetic the main song of our wedding would be.

We sang it during the wedding,
and we walked down the aisle into the world
as a married couple to this song:

"You give and take away.
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say,
Lord, Blessed be Your Name"

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Let's just say our hearts have had to choose A LOT
to say "Lord, blessed be Your name."
Because though a lot has been given,
a lot has been taken away in our short life together.
But He has remained sovereign.

People have literally said to us in the past
that maybe we should not be married because
"God seems to be putting ya'll through too much."

We have had friends ask if we accidentally said
"in sickness and in sickness" in our vows.

We have been told maybe we had made a mistake,
that why would God allow us to go through so much, so young?

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We used to dwell on what was being taken,
by our Enemy, or by God's protection for us.
But we are {still} learning to say,
and actually believe,
"Lord, Blessed be Your Name!!"

God gas GIVEN in our marriage.

protection from things unseen.
forgiveness when it seemed hopeless.
money when there wasn't any.
children at perfect, unexpected timing.
healing from major sickness.
provision we didn't know we would need.

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I wouldn't trade our journey together for anything.
It has blessed me, challenged me, grown me, and guided me
beyond my wildest dreams.

I cannot believe it's been 8 years,
but I cannot imagine having spent them any other way.
We. Are. Blessed.
God has given us immeasurable JOY even in the midst of fire.

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I love who we've become.
I love who we're going to be.
I love US.

Happy 8 year Anniversary, Parker Lowe.

I'm so glad I said "I do".

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