"Every burden I have carried,
Every joy--it's understood.
Life with you is half as hard,
And twice as good."
~Sara Groves
When we said "I do" 25 years ago today, did we have any idea what we signed up for? I remember the whispers of those who said we'd never last. I remember my Dad wondering how a girl who couldn't even make rice or a pot of coffee was ever going to survive marriage.
You didn't expect to get a wife who was all about herself. You didn't expect to live with a woman who acted more like a girl. I didn't expect to be so homesick or watch so much football or have so many arguments.
Neither one of us expected to have to die to self at every turn. And neither one of us knew what God's amazing grace would do. How God would call you to Himself, and how He would preserve our marriage. How His grace would make us plumb the depths of married love and leave us speechless with wonder.
Neither one of us expected children. Remember my declaration that I didn't want any? And here we are, 25 years later, celebrating the birth of our 9th child. Many think it's plain crazy. I think it's crazy-beautiful, and I marvel at God's kindness in writing such a story as ours. I weep over it all, for I am one undeserving woman, the last I'd choose to be a wife and mother, and yet, God has given me You and Them and this very, very good life of knowing Him.
I have not done you well all the days of our marriage. I have not prayed enough for you or forgiven enough. I have not been thankful enough or honored you enough. And yet, you have loved me for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad.
You love me with a love that runs over.
A love that remembers how much I love chocolate and salty french fries and ice-cold cokes.
A love that indulges my affection for pens and paper and books and bookshelves (more bookshelves, please).
A love that looks at my scars and still sees something beautiful.
A love that drives hours a day to work hard all day to provide for us.
A love that aches with me over losses and rejoices with me over blessings.
A love that never asks, "Just what have you been doing all day?"
A love that defends and forgives and perseveres and pursues and resolves.
A love that delights in nine blessings from the LORD.
A love that leaves me thanking God for His goodness and mercy.
Happy 25th anniversary! I love you.
***How fitting that this is my 1000th post! :)
Dear Trisha & Ben,
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to be celebrating 25 years of marriage! Congratulations! I really loved all the pictures with this post! God willing, Clyde and I will celebrate our 50th anniversary in November 2013!
Love to all,
Cousin Patty
Congratulations! Beautiful thoughts, beautiful photographs. You are blessed indeed! May our gracious God who makes such relationships possible, continue to bless you as you serve him together.
ReplyDeleteLove that Coon skin hat? we don't have such critters here!
Mountain Man says ... Waugh? Coon skin hat??? Dat ain't no varmint coon skin hat! Dat be a fine example of a Beaver plew ... worned in da style of a Free Trader's hat. It was donned by those who had fulfilled der obliged service to whatever Company dey wuz engaged wit ... and now dey roam God's majestik rocky mountains as Free Men! Huzzah!
DeleteHappy happy 25th anniversary to you, Mr and Mrs Poff! How God must smile when He looks upon you both and your wonderful family. :) God's richest blessings upon you all in this year to come. :D <><
ReplyDeleteCongratulations you two! What a lovely family, and what a wonderful testimony!
ReplyDeleteWonderful, wonderful post. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful. Tears of joy for you, my friend. I love all the pictures, but the 4th is my favorite because it clearly shows how much you adore that man of yours. (When you said you didn't want children, I nearly laughed out loud! How good is our God!)
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary!
Happy anniversary, Ben & Trisha! God's blessings on many more years to come.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful and fitting 1000th post, Trisha.
Happy Anniversary Ben & Trisha! Hope the next 25 years will be as great as the last 25. Your post brought tears to my eyes. You are a great writer! I see where your son gets it from. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! I hope you have a blessed day. What a beautiful post and to be #1000-even better. :) Loved the photos as well. Thankful that God has given us the gifts of godly men-an example of Christ in human form-we are blessed. Love you
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! Loved the post and all the photos, they tell a wonderful story of God's grace in your lives.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary Trisha and Ben!!! What a wonderful testimony you've shared today! I loved seeing so many pictures of you and your family that I'd never seen before. Truly you are blessed and your quiver is full of beautiful healthy children!
ReplyDeleteLove you~
This brought tears to my eyes my precious friend. Oh...how I *hear* your heart in this post Trisha! How blessed we are to have these godly men to care for us and give us their love...God is Good!!! I am not. What a blessing it is that HE forgives and gives more and more grace...I am thankful! Thank you for sharing your heart and your sorrows and joys...they are beautiful. You are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMuch Love to you!
Camille
P.S. Congrats on your 1000th post!! Here's to 1000 more!! I just clicked over 500. I think it's fun that we've reached these milestones at the same time!! :)
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY !!!!!! I remember it well... The cake was very good .. things went well... was a very Good Day.... Hope you have a very good day.... Love all the pictures!! I love you both lots!!!!! Mom
ReplyDeleteHappy Happy Anniversary!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are rejoicing with you at our house!!!
Love to all,
The Radigans
beautiful
ReplyDeleteopps, that was me (caity, signed in under my friend's email =p)
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! I love the pictures; love the words; love the LOVE that you two share. Who can ever predict a life. You do have "the good life." I pray God blesses you with many more years ahead!
ReplyDeleteHappy, happy anniversary!!!! wow! 25th years. What a wonderful encouragement to young ladies like me. :)
ReplyDeleteI pray God pours His blessings on you all!!!
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary.
A Very happy Anniversary to you!!! Very Very Blessed Day to you!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I must add- that part about your love for bookshelves and more bookshelves- was just perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteSo now I am crying!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary, my dear friend! God has blessed you greatly with a "good life" indeed!
Love you! <3
Happy Anniversary Trisha, this brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful example you have been to your children.
ReplyDelete"I have not done you well all the days of our marriage. I have not prayed enough for you or forgiven enough. I have not been thankful enough or honored you enough."
This is so true, I was just thinking this about Patrick this morning.
Have a wonderful 25 more years my dear!
Thank you so much, everyone! Your comments are such a blessing!! You've made this day even more special. I'm off to enjoy a steak dinner with the whole gang! Love and hugs!!
ReplyDeleteI have to keep going back and looking at the picture of the laughing infant next to a sleeping Ben. That is the sweetest picture! I can't tell if it's Jedediah or Elijah, but it doesn't matter, it touched my heart! Much Love.
ReplyDeleteCousin Patty
Dear Patty,
DeleteThat's actually Elisabeth! :) Love you!
What a beautiful post. A sweet slice of heaven here on earth. Such a gift from the Lord to unite you two in Him with blessings overflowing through your dear children.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anni! 25 yrs - that's a beautiful thing ♥
~Cinnamon
What a beautiful post, Trisha. HAPPY 25TH ANNIVERSARY TO YOU BOTH. God is good. I love the pictures. You know
ReplyDeletehow much I love pictures. God has blessed you with beautiful children.
Love,
MOM
What a wonderful blessing! Many more blessings to you as you celebrate your anniversary... Your post brought tears to my eyes. You have SUCH a beautiful family. Love you xo
ReplyDeleteWell said and better lived...to the Glory of God. How wonderful an encouragement. Love the tag line. Love you. Congratulations - Rejoicing at His Goodness to you and through you. Grace, Peace and Joy in the next 25.
ReplyDeleteHappy Silver Anniversary,
Jojo
Who says there is no such thing as "Happily Ever After"?
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautifully, sweet post! I know I am late, but happy anniversary! May the Lord bless you with many more years together! Love you!
ReplyDeleteMountain Man says ... y'all folks dun plum flumoxed dis here ol' timer! Humbled by dim words of yorn Princess ... yessir, plum humbled to de core! Can't wait to git back to the cabin and see your purty face (and de rest of your purty self of course ... oh yea, and all dim young uns' too of course! One more thing, I'm purty shur it ain't been no 25 years ... it wuz jist a couple of years ago dat we got hitched in St. Louis won't it? Huzzah!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE YOU!! xo
DeleteCongrats on 25 years!!! Such a sweet post :-)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! Congratulations you two! You are so blessed!
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious, God-honoring, husband adoring post! Congratulations! :)
ReplyDeleteJessica
Hi Trisha,
ReplyDeleteI'm a little slow...I hadn't seen this before, what a beautiful post and such a beautiful God-story, thank you for sharing it :)
Our anniversary was the day after yours...a good time of year!
Have a good day lovely lady.
Hazel