Cheers to 16 years!

Ella made this card for me and Todd a few months ago. Apparently she now knows what a crush is;)

I was nineteen, you were twenty-one
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway
We bought our rings for forty each
From a pawn shop down the road
We made our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen years ago
We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for
"I do" are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I've heard
Is a good place to begin
'Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it's an easy price
For the life that we have found
And we're dancing in the minefields
We're sailing in the storm
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for
So when I lose my way, find me
When I loose love's chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me
'Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there's nothing left to fear
So I'll walk with you in the shadowlands
Till the shadows disappear
'Cause He promised not to leave us
And His promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos, baby,
I can dance with you

This beautiful song always touches my heart and is first on my playlist as we celebrate our 16th anniversary today. I think back on our life together and it seems like it's been twice this long and half as long all at the same time. I was just a baby when we got married, but I was the queen of his double wide trailer:) and oh so in love. We didn't have a lot, we lived a simple little life on our 10 acres in the woods. Those were years of growing up and growing together, and I cherish our memories of camping, fishing after work, 4-wheeler treks, riding our horses at night, having sleep-outs in the grass or dragging our mattress under the Christmas tree. We have had a blessed life together, not charmed, but blessed. We've overcome what a lot of people would consider challenges to a lasting marriage ~  getting married "too young" {at least in my case;)}, being a blended family, for me, juggling college, working and step-mommyhood all at once, infertility, then multiples, family struggles and personal ones. But God is faithful, and we have been faithful to not let the other one get away. Honey, when I lose my way, find me, and if I loosen love's chain, bind me...