Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Milestones and Memories

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Today marks a milestone! John and I are celebrating twenty-five years of marriage! YAY! One quarter of a century! And, if we make it to the half century mark, we’ll be extremely blessed – and very, very old!!

A few things have changed over the years. Some things have stayed the same. We still enjoy date nights – usually dinner out with friends. But with age comes the necessity of flexibility. Turns out, one date night became a date event.

Recently, we just happened to schedule our colonoscopies on the SAME DAY! What are the odds? Instead of a nice dinner out, we drank chicken broth and a nasty concoction in preparation. Our date night turned into several days of togetherness. It takes a lot of love to support one another through the irritability caused by near starvation. Oh, the joys of purging together, hee hee! And it’s true what they say: Misery really does love company!

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other…” Colossians 3:12-13a NASB

In addition to flexibility, we’ve learned not to get our feelings hurt. You know how it is: someone says something (or texts something) and you take it the wrong way. We’ve learned that we can’t always gauge the meaning of someone’s words from their text or tone. We don’t know what they are going through. 

However, there is an exception to this rule. It’s grandkids. They are the exception. 

John had taken several family pictures of us and our grands on Easter Sunday. We were all looking at them on the computer, oohing and ahhhing at how nice they turned out.  John air dropped one of the best pictures to our grands. Do you know what happened?

“DECLINED”

Our oldest grandson, sitting right next to John, refused to accept the pictures of us!! Ouch! That one hurt! Rejection from the grandson!

“I don’t need those pictures!”

“Well just pretend you want them and delete them later! Make us feel loved!”

We’ve made our share of mistakes over the years, but have learned so much, too. One thing that we’ve found is most important: follow the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. Even if you don’t know why He’s asking you to do something difficult, even if it doesn’t make sense, follow His lead and His promptings. When you do, blessings will abound. 

You know, kinda like that time I was prompted to say “Yes” to John Chauvin when he asked me to marry him!

Then our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues sang for joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord had done great things for them.” Psalms 126:2

Grace be with you,

What I’ve Learned after Twenty-Three Years of Marriage

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Saturday marks twenty-three years John and I have been married. Twenty-three. Where had the time gone? 

Because John and I had each been married before, we were in our late, LATE thirties by the time we tied the knot. Our age didn’t stop us from feeling like giddy teenagers. At dinner one night, at the restaurant we hoped would become the venue for our reception, we sat all googly-eyed (Is that a word? No? It is now!) while we planned the wedding. 

The waitress came over to take our order, and we began quizzing her about the possibility of having our reception in their building. Evidently, while John and I gushed with excitement over the upcoming wedding, we didn’t make ourselves perfectly clear. 

“Will it be your son or daughter getting married?” our sweet, little, YOUNG waitress asked.

BAM!

Immediately, my blushing bride bubble was busted! Not to worry. We picked our old selves up, dusted our old bones off, and continued the wedding planning. Onward!

I remember the ceremony like it was yesterday. All of our families were there. My brothers walked me down the aisle. I wanted them as a show of force, you know “Don’t you hurt our baby sister!”

Over the years, there have been many anniversary getaways to beautiful, relaxing bed and breakfast homes. What could go wrong? Turns out, a lot! They can be positively buggy!

And now, just like that, we are in our sixties, looking back on the last twenty-three years with awe and thanksgiving. There are so many memories and fun times, it’s hard to pick a favorite. There have also been seasons of loss. All I can say is, the Lord has been with us every step of the way. He has comforted us and He has blessed us indeed. 

Oh, sure, we’ve had bumps in the road. What marriage hasn’t? Thankfully, we both learned from our previous mistakes. We knew going into this marriage that it would be hard work, and a lot of give and take. We were willing!

Here’s what I would tell you – about marriage, about calling, or about life in general: Be willing to do the hard work. Be willing to yield. Don’t give up! Persevere! And do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). It is through Christ alone that we have succeeded at this thing called marriage.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:31, 37 (ESV)

Hmmmm, I wonder what the next twenty-three years will be like?

Happy anniversary, John Chauvin!

Grace be with you,