The Combs Krewe

Do you like love stories? Who doesn't! Well, as Jackie and I prepare to celebrate our 7th anniversary tomorrow I'm ruminating on ours. It had an unexpected beginning and several surprising twists some of which threw me off so badly that I'm only now beginning to see how beautifully the Master Author has written it. I know it has had to have been in His hands because I seriously couldn't make some of this stuff up. Though Jackie and I didn't meet until 2004, but I will begin our story in 1998. That year I was 15 and pregnant. I suppose everyone thinks a baby will change your life to some degree but few people understand just to what degree that is. Because of Keeleigh a lot of things were different in my life. I traded in some of my freedom as a teenager for bottles and diapers. I remember I used to leave school and tell my friends, "Well, I'm off to play house." "Don't you wish you were just playing?" a friend asked. Really? I didn...

Some couples make it a priority to have a regular date night. Jackie and I have not been so great about doing that. In fact, last night was the first time we'd been out alone in about 2 years! So I was very happy that we're blessed with wonderful friends who volunteered to keep our kids for a few hours while we went out to eat. Jackie got reservations for Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (unfortunately the one downtown was booked up so we went to Metairie) and we headed there for some yummy, yummy steak, garlic mashed potatoes, and sauteed mushrooms. The only thing that could have made it better was if they'd had Dr. Pepper, ha ha! It was so much fun, I hope it's not another 2 years until we do it again!

Six years ago today I became Mrs. Jackie Combs. I knew beyond a shadow of doubt that God had created us for one another and was completely overjoyed to begin our married life. Beyond that I didn't know much (I now see). Since then there have been times when I've been let down and disappointed and angry and confused about our marital roles but I've never forgotten that it was indeed God who joined us and that what He joins He does not intend to dismantle but build stronger. It has taken almost these entire six years for me to finally begin to learn what it means to "become one." I'm so thankful to have someone who loves me unconditionally and with complete abandon even though he truly knows me-- someone who loves me like Christ loves the Church and not simply the way I think he ought to love me. I'm happy to have a true best friend and know that this is only the beginning--that our love will grow and deepen with each passing day. Our marriage has been tot...