five years and amazed

Five years ago we were posing in the Forbidden City for an engagement photo.  When you get engaged the future seems like a wonderful, exciting, unknown journey laid out before you.  At least some of the time.  Looking back at what the five years has been, I'm amazed.

 What newly engaged couple can imagine that five years into the future they would have a 2.5 year old budding artist creating masterpieces by the bookful at the kitchen table?

 Or that a little boy would be anxious to watch you shave as you hurriedly get ready for church in the morning?

 Or that your Sundays would be spent with two and three year olds discovering the secrets of the Kingdom of God?  (Instead of listening to Shane Claiborne preach at your church)  I reassure myself that telling the parable of the mustard seed is probably a similar one to Shane's, urging us to be an active part of God's work here on earth.

 The kids were certainly into it today, and to be honest, it was a lovely class.  We're getting the hang of each other and our Young Children and Worship curriculum which is just lovely indeed.  The time spent making all the materials and investing in the children has been well worth it.

Five years from promising someone I'd be their life partner and then do just that.  Nope, there's no way that I could have seen those five years into the future when I said, "Yes, I will marry you!"  It was the right decision, boy was it ever.

I'm exhausted just thinking of the last five years.  (And this is what I do when I get mentally exhausted- make hats for friends who have had new babies-- I know they will be exhausted too!.

Anyway, pictures from five years ago and from today.   Have you looked back at the last five years and been amazed?