Our 4 Monkeys: TEN YEARS!!

Well, this post is a day late because we were out last night celebrating ten years of marriage! It's amazing how fast ten years goes and how much can change in that amount of time! Nate sent me ten texts reviewing the last ten years and an eleventh message looking forward to the coming years! I texted him back with one to two words summarizing each year. I'm writing this here to help us remember, but for you to read too if you want! :)
Here's what each one said:
Year 1: Marriage vows, experiencing pregnancy for the first time, our first "home" together, the birth of our first child--a son! (two words: HARD & JOYFUL)
Year 2: Grief and loss in the death of our second child, but the hope of one day being reunited in Heaven; my (Nate's) college graduation, my (Nate's) baptism, learning how to parent. (one word: PAINFUL)
Year 3: My (Nate's) first post-graduate job, new lifelong friends found, our first daughter is born and we now have the "perfect family", our second "home", your (Sadie's) graduation. (one word: HAPPY)
Year 4: My (Nate's) second job, curfew calls, your (Sadie's) first post-graduate job, adventures in daycare, taking over a connection group to minister to, lead, teach, and encourage. (one word: CHALLENGING)
Year 5: Our first house! Paint, laminate floor, paint, new carpet, paint; shattered trust. (two words: BROKENESS & REBUILDING)
Year 6: House maintenance, Catan marathons with Gieselman's, the thriving Hatting Family Daycare. (one word: EXHAUSTION)
Year 7: Start of the back room remodel adventure (what were we thinking??), first cholestasis, our second son, my (Nate's) third and current job. (one word: TORTUROUS)
Year 8: Finally finishing back room remodel adventure (lessons learned), coupons, coupons, coupons! (one word: SAVING)
Year 9: Big changes, new house, new city, new van, new car, St. Louis vacation (did I really just pay THAT much for THAT carriage ride??!!...Yes, I did!) (one word: CHANGE)
Year 10: Suprise! Second cholestasis, 3rd son (we have now been blessed with a "quiver full"), home improvements, stitches and garage doors, new church home, and new friends. (one word: SUPRISES)
**Year 11: Unknown...take my hand, I'm ready to experience whatever the Lord has next for us as we venture on together for years to come! I love you! Happy Anniversary! (one word: UNKOWN)**

Through all of the years, it would have been so easy to walk away from each other. There have certainly been HAPPY/JOYFUL times, but there were times when it was too HARD, too PAINFUL, too CHALLENGING, too EXHAUSTING, and so on. But we give all the glory to God for giving us an unbreakable bond and for the strength He has given us when it was too hard for us to do on our own. As we enter into the coming years, everything is UNKNOWN to us, but our faith in God helps us take hands and go forward trusting completely in Him.