9 years

9 years ago today Pancho and I were married.
9 years.
It is hard to believe it has been that long.
I just spent some time reviewing our wedding video (yes, the original version is a VHS tape! Boy, does that date us!).
I wanted to print our vows.
We said that we would always carry them around on a printed card in our wallets "until death do us part" but it appears those vow cards have been lost over the years.
It was incredible to see us all those years ago.
We were so young.
I cried as I watched the video.
Tears of gratitude to our Savior and Lord.
Like Pastor Jon said in the introduction at the wedding ceremony, God took me all the way to Venezuela to meet the man He had chosen for me.
Isn't that absolutely incredible?

Romans 11:33
Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge!
How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!

It is something I would have never imagined.
Something I would have never chosen for myself.
And yet it has been the greatest blessing in my life.
God has used my union with Pancho to continue to mold and shape me into the woman He intended me to be.
Thank You, dear Father, for knowing exactly what I need and giving me the greatest gift (next to You): Pancho.
Thank You for the nine years You have blessed us with.
Thank You for the blessings of Katrina and Samuel during these nine years.
Help us today and everyday to remember Your goodness above all else and Your faithfulness to us in all things.

Here are our vows.

Pancho's vows to me:
I promise with the help of God to be with you in the good and the bad, for now and the rest of our lives.
I promise to be the person that God wants me to be.
I promise to be everyday a better person for you.
I promise to be faithful to you and to God.
I promise to be responsible in our marriage.
I promise to appreciate your beauty.
I promise to give my life for you like Christ gave His life for the church.
I promise to help us grow in our knowledge of God.
I promise to lead our home in the way and fear of the Lord.
I promise to like you, love you as my own body.
I promise to protect you, take care of you.
I promise to put your needs before mine, to respect you, to serve you, to understand you and to encourage you to be your best.
I love you.
I promise to always be there for you.
I promise to receive your love and to work hard to keep our marriage true and our love everlasting.

My vows to Pancho:
Te prometo, Panchito, ser fiel a ti, como tu esposa.
I promise, Panchito, to be faithful to you, as your wife.
Prometo ser tu mejor amiga para siempre.
I promise to be your best friend.
Honrare nuestra relacion.
I will honor our relationship.
Te prometo ser tu ayudedonia.
I promise to be your help-meet.
Obedecere tu autoridad y soportare las decisiones que hagas para nuestra familia.
I will obey your authority and I will support the decisions you make for our family.
Prometo que ire donde Dios nos guie.
I promise to go where God directs.
Te amare.
I will love you.
Te cuidare.
I will care for you.
Pondre tus necesidades sobre las mias.
I will put your needs over my own.
Te pedire perdon cuando no tenga razon.
I will ask for forgiveness when I am wrong.
Te perdonare.
I will forgive you.
Te sere fiel.
I will be faithful to you.
Sere honesta contigo.
I will be honest with you.
Compartire mi vida contigo.
I will share my life with you.
Confiare en ti.
I will trust you.
Me reire y llorare contigo.
I will laugh and cry with you.