What does 41 years look like?

Andy & I are celebrating 41 years of marriage today--he in Groom; me in Dallas. What does 41 years look like?  Here's the good and not-so-good of it...

• 6 years of traveling/singing ministry--all over the U.S.  If you need a relationship to be tested by fire, this is a good way!
• Serving on the staff of 4 churches. We've had beautiful experiences in each of these churches and have come away with life-time and life-giving relationships. We also went to hell and back in a few. (I'm also just as sure some people couldn't wait for us to leave.)
• Having and raising 4 amazing kids. They endured our inexperience, legalism, and strict disciplinarianism. But they became great in spite of us!!
• Having 11 ADORABLE grandchildren. They're perfect, fun, and a beautiful reward we don't deserve. 
• Andy has survived my control and I've survived his driving.  And we've both survived the two co-existing. 😬
• Doing 41 years of ministry together has been amazing!!!  We've traveled all over the world and have seen people come to Christ. We've also expanded our family in the process.  I can't think of a better life!
• We've both made sacrifices to see the other succeed. I missed a lot of youth ministry while I was with our own kids. Andy has watched our kids while I spent time with my parents or went on mission trips of my own. He's the one who encouraged me to step into my own ministry--and keeps encouraging me. 
• We've fought along the way--a lot. You don't bring two strong-willed people to mingle their lives without that happening. But we've also laughed our heads off. I enjoy being with Andy. I like doing crazy stuff and laughing hysterically the most.  And it can be the little things that set us off!
• We have AMAZING friendships--the kind I wish for my own kids--for everyone!  We have friends who would give us the world or come to us at 3 AM in our need--and have. We'd do the same for them. 

It's so good to sit and reflect on a 41-year marriage. In the day-to-day, we can let the little things irritate us and become our focus.  But we need to keep our focus on what God sees--two lives which became one to reflect the relationship of Christ and the Church (whom Jesus loves to death)!  I can only hope we've done that. But it's also been amazing to ponder our growth, our change. We're not those starry-eyed newlyweds.  Our love has been tested with fire from without and within. We've grown, developed strengths, fallen apart, examined ourselves, questioned ourselves, and survived.  No...thrived!  Would I go back 41 years if I could?  Heck NO!!  I love where we are--understanding and encouraging one another more than ever and enjoying each moment together. I'm grateful. 

I love you more than ever, Andy Dietz!