Year Thirteen...

Today, we begin our thirteenth year of marriage. I cannot believe we were married twelve years ago! I was talking to Alan last night about how much it feels like the past few years have flown. Anniversaries always make me reflect on what has happened during that year, and this year is no different. This one has definitely not been easy! I had major surgery last summer, and lost my job this spring due to not being tenured. However, I did finish graduate school and find a new teaching job this summer. I have many blessings to count! I believe the Lord has worked all of my tough times out to be blessings as we glorify Him; "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

During our wedding, we used the scripture passage from 1 Corinthians 13. I know that during the past few years, Alan has had to remember that many times as he supported me going back to school, taking the kids to school as I got up early to commute to work, etc.

I do not know how I would have survived all that I have done since we moved back to Dothan if he had not been such a wonderful father and husband. I am so thankful that he endured!

"Love...always protects, always, trusts, always hopes, always preserves." I Cor. 13:7

Thinking back even farther, I believe we were guided by this passage from the beginning with our decisions to enter ministry full-time, and to move to various locations (I believe we have moved 9 times in our 12 years of marriage, if I am not mistaken). There are so many times that I had to remember to persevere...even when I absolutely did not want to...

I believe that we have persevered through some really tough seasons in life already. I am sure that there are still many hard things to pass through, but I am hoping for some smooth sailing in the years ahead. I know that God has exciting things in store as our kids grow up and and develop into the wonderful people he has called them to be! I cannot wait to see it...

By the way, the picture at the top is one of us a summer at Camp Sumatanga (I think we were 15???). Obviously, the middle images are from our wedding - August 2, 1997. We were married at First United Methodist Church in Florence, Alabama. This last image is this July at Alan's parents house. We were on our way to the Seactor awards here in Dothan.

The Initiation

It is hard to believe that our family originated 22 years ago. I guess I should explain...Alan and I met when we were 12 years old at Camp Sumatanga. It is a United Methodist Church Camp in Gallant, Alabama. It is a truly wonderful place, and if you ever get the chance to go - you should! Now, back to the part about how our family came to be. We actually did not really like each other at first. I will spare you all of the boring details, but we grew up at opposite ends of the state. We wrote letters and called occasionally. We even saw each other a few times as we got a little older at events when he would be near my hometown or something. However, Music & Arts Week (or choir camp as we called it back then) was our week to see each other each summer. The summer we turned 15, a certain spark ignited for us. When we were 16, he came to Florence for my junior/senior prom. During college, I went to BSC and went to Wallace then Alabama then back to Dothan. We did not keep up.

Thanks to a fateful email from his brother, we ended up reconnecting the beginning of February 1997. We began dating again, and were engaged quickly. I am sure he would tell the story with a more dramatic flare, but oh well. In August, we were married. We never lived in the same city until 2 months before we were married (just a funny fact about us).

3 years later, our first precious addition arrived. Savannah Lynn Watson was born on October 9, 2000. Although she was 3 weeks early, she took her time getting here once I went into labor (3 days of misery). That is a whole different post...

In March of 2003, Alan McLain Watson, Jr. was born. He was 4 weeks early, and his lungs were not fully developed. After 10 days in the NICU at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, we proudly brought him home to Gallatin (where we were living at the time). We were so relieved that he had healed enough to be out of the "incubator" and off of the oxygen. That was truly one of the most emotionally draining experiences of our lives.

Fast forward to 2009, and we are a busy family of four living, working, playing and praying in lower Alabama. We do the best that we can to survive what life throws our way.