22 Years

No I'm not 22 years old today. I know I may look like it (plus 30 years) but I'm not. No silly this is a significant day. This day is a reminder for Tammy (kinda like Pearl Harbor). She looks at this day with great anticipation (like the movie groudhog day, I'm sure, here we go again). But enough self esteem building for me!

So 22 years ago today I got married. I didn’t marry my best friend (starting off great huh?). I didn’t marry the person that I had been with for 100 years and knew I was going to marry for 99.9 of those years (not looking good is it?). Obviously writing isn't my strength, ya think?

I married Tammy. Tammy was absolutely gorgeous (still is today). Funny thing about our story is that when I first met her I thought she was around 15 years old. I was 18 at the time and there was no way I was dating a 15 year old. No way! Ain’t happenin! My cousin who is Donna Bragg and Tammy were best friends. So I ask, because I couldn’t get her off my mind, how old Tammy was. To my delight she was a year older than me. How cool is that? We met in September and were married in February of the following year.

Without all the details (which would bore you to death but has made our life amazing together) I will say this.

Looking back I’m sure at our wedding were our family, friends, and loved ones. And I am also sure that over half of them just came to see the beginning of what they thought was going to be a disaster. Heck, even the preacher said we were making a mistake.

Ours is a story of ignorance, stubbornness, pride, and incredible love (I’m sure you’re wondering how I come up with such romantic words. It’s a gift).

Ignorance: We didn’t know it wasn’t supposed to work and we didn’t know that divorce was an option. We thought that problems were normal and we were supposed to work it out. We didn’t know that good money was against us in Vegas (I don’t think it was but it makes for a great lineJ)

Stubbornness: She wasn’t giving up and having it be her fault and I sure wasn’t either

Pride: When I realize people don’t think I can do something it just does a number on my attitude and I want to succeed. Tammy isn’t much different.

Incredible love: Wow. I wish I could put into words what we have. I wish everyone getting married could just get a glimpse into our awesome boring incredible life. She is my best friend now. Nobody loves me like she does. And no one loves her like I do. We have two great kids and honestly just a great life together.

And I see no end. Sure, there will be problems. There will be difficulty. There will be pain. But, there will be great times. There will be days when our love is easy. There will be times when there is just pure joy. There will be times when we ask God what we did so well to deserve one another and there will be others when we ask when were we so terrible to end up with one another.

But we will be together. Not because we are better but because we say so; Together! God has blessed us with 22 years together and however long we both live will be spent together. Happiness is a choice we both make. She could’ve done better but she didn’t. She got me. And she’s got me. I’m hooked! I love her. We CHOOSE to love each other.

I love you Tammy (oh by the way, she doesn’t read my blog so this isn’t brownie points)!
Can’t wait for our date night tonight (after basketball practice, of course)!
Proverbs 18:22 NLT
22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,
      and he receives favor from the LORD.
          (Translation: Brad is rich and favored of God)


Pastor Dad

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 16, 2012 at 10:50 PM

    Happy anniversary Brad and Tammy. I've known Brad for years but only a few months as my pastor. Kim and I are just getting to know Tammy. But we love them both. Thank you for being a good example to your friends and your church.

    BTW.....When does the BB life group start??

    ReplyDelete

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