The glow that illuminates...9 great years!

Yesterday, Alyson and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. We did our typical routine celebration that consisted of dinner and a movie. We went to a restaurant named Kruese and Muir. It is a casual seafood place that is popular in our community. The food is really good and affordable. I got some swordfish and Alyson got chicken...I know its not seafood, but it was called Hawaiian Chicken. After dinner we went to see The Kingdom. I enjoyed the movie, but Aly was not as into it as I was. It was a good night overall.

As I sit back and think about the last 9 years of our lives together I can honestly say that I would not change a thing. The first 6 years were pretty smooth. Nothing major to talk about. The last 3 years have been a bit crazy. We got pregnant. What a thrill. Alyson was diagnosed with breast cancer. I've already talked about that enough. We had a beautiful, wonderful little boy. Aly's breast cancer was gone. We settle in being parents. Alyson's breast cancer comes back. One might think...why wouldn't you change the breast cancer thing? That would be a legitimate question. I look at it this way.

James Thurber said this: "There are two kinds of light--the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures". People respond to things differently from one person to the next. When things go wrong we have two choices. Deal with the situation or get mad at the situation and give up or be bitter. Alyson got breast cancer...that sucks! Never once has she outwardly been mad or bitter. She has dealt with this in such a positive way. She has taught me so much in these last 3 years about how to respond to adversity and how to be a source of encouragement to others. In these last 3 years we as a couple have been truly transformed in wonderful ways. God has shown us so many things about ourselves both individually and as a couple. Though I still do not know exactly why Alyson has cancer, I know there is a reason. Matthew 5:14 says: "You are the light of the world-like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see". Besides Christ, Alyson is the light of my world and when times have been dark she has been a light for us. That is why I would not change one single thing.

Two kinds of light...the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.

Thanks for being my glow.