Our Family Turned 15 Today!

The Ely Family was officially established 15 years ago today, March 20! I can't believe that it has been 15 years ago when I was walking down that aisle to joyfully bind myself to Mr. Ely for the rest of my life. There we were in dusty Arizona. So much has happened. 3 children, 8 homes, countless amazing friends, 6 cars, 2 dogs, 2 cats, countless fish, 2 hamsters, a rabbit. (poor creatures...) We have been very blessed with an unusually good marriage. The credit goes to God and His immeasurrable grace in our lives. I don't know how people do it without Him, especially when circumstances become difficult. We haven't had the easiest life, and have had our fill of trials, but God has astonished us over and over again to show His faithfulness, sometimes when it looked like we were completely out of hope. So, I just want to praise and thank God for His ever abundant mercy and favor on our little family, and thanks for all the awesome families He strategically placed in our lives to be examples to us, especially early in our marriage-- Our first pastors at Calvary Chapel in Winslow who insisted on premarital counseling and praying together, five bazillion others in Abilene when we were such a young family and people thought we looked like hs/college kids even though we were in our mid twenties(No one says that to us anymore, and now I WANT them to!). Over the years we have been blessed with so many friends who have become like family to us. I just can't believe how quickly time goes by, but one thing I do recognize is this: God has His sovereign hand in our lives, gently weaving in relationships and situations to work all things together for our good, and we can trust Him.