Happy Anniversary to My Husband, 12 years already?

After 12 years of being married, my husband can still land a “backside disaster”-a.k.a. A cool skate trick

When I first started dating my husband I already knew that he enjoyed skateboarding. I would hang around West Covina High School and he would be there….skateboarding.
Since July 17 is our 12 year wedding anniversary I wanted to share one of my favorite stories….

On the evening of our first date Chuck tells me that he put on some nice pants and a nice shirt and boots. He looked in the mirror and decided to change his outfit. “If this girl is real she’ll like me for me” He changed his clothes, put on a skate shirt, jeans and Vans. We went out on our first date. I love this story! One of the things I love about my husband is his honesty, transparency and integrity.

He is the real deal.

He does not sugar coat things and tells things as they are. I love the fact that from day one he wanted me to like him for who he really was…A young man, a man dedicated to Jesus Christ, a man who enjoyed reading and studying his Bible, skateboarding, worked at CostPlus World Market and was enrolled at Citrus College. He told me on our first date, “If Christ is not in the relationship it can’t work.” I was in love!!!!!! What guy brings up the importance of having Christ as the center of a relationship on the very first date? He brought this conversation up even before he knew me. That’s my Chuck.

My husband and I have truly matured together over the years. They say some couples either grow together or grow apart. Well, I know from experience that a marriage with Jesus in the center, a marriage that emphasizes self-denial, prayer, daily encouragement in God’s Word, DATING each other, Eph 5:33 (love and respect), friendship, patience (and every fruit listed in Gal 5), is truly amazing and will produce growth.

I told Chuck the other day that there is nothing that attracts me more to him than seeing him interact as a dad. I realize that Olivia is going to one day be a wife and mother. I told her, “See how Daddy opens the door for me, your husband will do that for you too.” He spends time with her even when he’s tired. It’s those things that matter. I tell her that her future husband must answer the 5 questions- Do you read your Bible? Do you pray? Do you have Jesus in your heart? Do you go to church? Do you go to work? If he says yes to all these things then you can marry him. I know it sounds funny but I want to teach her while she’s young to look for these characteristics in her future spouse.

A girlfriend of mine said, “Even if he answers the 5 questions correctly, Olivia…you can’t get married yet…you have to wait a few minutes and see if he really does those things”

I thought that was a great addition! Watch and see! As a woman, I have observed my husband continually show me sacrificial love. I have watched him grow into a man of prayer, a man committed to serving young men and encouraging them in their walks with the LORD. I can honestly say my husband is a role model. As an 8th grade teacher, many of his students look up to him and they can say like I do, “Mr. G is the real deal.” Sometimes he still skateboards with his students after school and can win them at a battle of “sk8.” That is what I love about my husband. He is so down to earth and approachable, yet he is also full of wisdom and knowledge about life and about God’s Word. I love it that we still stop at skateparks on our vacations! I love it, my kids love it and it reminds me of when we were dating and I would watch him skate…I am privileged and honored to have Chuck as my husband, my love, my soul mate and best friend.

My encouragement to women who read this is to remember that your husband knows you love him….what he needs is your respect. Tell him you respect him as a man and pray for him daily. See photo above of Chuck landing a backside disaster, photo credit- his wife of 12 years...