Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of Lisa's & my wedding. Its hard to believe the years have flown by so quickly. In some ways, it seems like only yesterday to me. I remember the ceremony, the pride in my parent's eyes, the stunning beauty in a bridal gown walking down the aisle on her father's arm to me. Twenty five years...filled with laughter, joy, a few tears, lots of adventure, and most of all, God-given love. I wouldn't trade a day of it with her, and would do it all again, in a heartbeat.
Our families first met way back in 1972 or 73 I think, when my dad saw an ad in the local paper for a pickup truck for sale. We had recently moved to Fayetteville, Georgia from south Florida, and my dad wanted to get a pickup- that's what these Southerners drive, right? He bought that old, black Ford pickup from a guy named Milbur Brown- Lisa's father. Turns out, they lived a couple of houses up from friends of my parents, the Harveys, who had also moved to Fayetteville from south Florida. We spent many a Saturday and/or Sunday at the Harvey's house, who had two girls and a boy, all younger than me. I once met this kid from up the street named Tim, and I would go up and play at his house often, when my family visited the Harveys. Tim had a little sister, Lisa, with blond ponytails and an infectious smile. We never let her play "Army" or "Cowboys & Indians" with us.
As the years went by, my parents began to attend Flat Creek Baptist Church south of town, during my junior high and early high school years. It just so happened the Browns were members there, though Lisa was in grade school then junior high at the time. We later moved our membership to New Hope Baptist, closer to home, only to find the Browns had as well! Lisa and Tim were both active in the youth group. I never paid much attention to her then, me being the big high school upper classman by that time, Lisa the lowly junior high-er! That would soon change, though...
As a young college student, I served as a summer intern, camp counselor, and even Sunday School teacher at New Hope. One year at high school summer camp, I was assigned as a team leader of about 15 students, one of whom was- Lisa. As we got to know each again that week, she developed a "crush" on me, and I admittedly was attracted to her (not usually encouraged between campers and counselors!). She wanted to talk one evening after dinner, out on a swing by the cafeteria, and we talked about how she felt called to the ministry, as I had several years before. Hugh Kirby, the youth pastor at the time, later told me, "I was going to have a talk with you about getting too close to one of the campers, but God told me to stay out of it, He was up to something here."
We began to date after that, off and on during her last two years of high school. Proms, dances, football games, church activities- replaying it all again, with Lisa. The longer we were together, the more serious we became. I got to the point where I asked a friend from my high school years, Pam, how I would know if this was the "real thing" or not. She told me, "When you come to the point that you can't imagine life without her, and can't bear the thought of her with anyone else, you'll know its the real thing." I was there, and I knew it. My dad helped me find a diamond ring, I secretly got the approval of her father, and one night, on a swing set at a church (Lisa loved to swing), I asked this girl to marry me. She accepted, and we began to plan for our life together.
We were married on August 29, 1987, at New Hope Baptist, Keith Moore (my pastor and "big brother" in the Lord) officiating. Hugh sang, and family and friends celebrated with us. We moved several times over the years- lived in a little single-wide trailer in Fayetteville for a time, then our first little house in Lithonia when Ansley was born, a church-owned parsonage in Snellville when Kelsey was born, two other houses in that town, before landing here, in Dacula. I've served churches in Peachtree City, Clarkston, Snellville, and now Dacula. Lisa has worked at several hospitals and a doctor's office. We've raised two lovely daughters, made a ton of memories, experienced many triumphs and a few tragedies along the way, but through it all, Lisa has been my soul mate, my lover, my best friend. Our love has done nothing but grow over the years, and I pray it will continue to, as long as we both are alive.
Its true- I can't imagine life with anyone else, would not have wanted to do life with anyone but Lisa. Aside from my relationship with Jesus Christ my Saviour, the greatest love of my life is her. Happy 25th Anniversary, Lisa! (29 if you count our dating years)
May God see fit to bless us with at least 25 more, like both our parents. Amen.