8 Years Later

     8 years ago many of you joined us at Newbridge Baptist Church in Asheville, NC as we got married and started our lives together as one.  Eight years later we still live in Asheville at Buckshot Ridge (we still love that name!).  I'm no longer a teacher in the public school system but a teacher/stay at home mother to two small boys.  Mark continues to provide for us through many avenues, primarily the bread route, and it keeps him plenty busy. 
     8 years later, we may look a little older, our bodies may have changed a bit, and our energy levels are significantly less however we are more in love now than ever, filled with more joy, and have the best time raising a family of Schuurman men.  We used to stay up late and go out all hours of the night.  Now, we're up late, but it's usually to soothe a crying child or find a teddy bear that's fallen out of bed.  We used to sleep in until 10am on Saturdays.  Now 10am on Saturdays is about Mark's fourth hour of work and usually the time he's cracking into his "lunch."  We used to dance to all kinds of worldly music when we'd go out on the town.  Now we dance in the kitchen in our pajamas, with our boys and each other.  We used to go to church just because it's what you're supposed to do and it was a good thing.  Now we enjoy SERVING at our church and WORSHIPING the Lord because we WANT to.  God has brought us through a lot these past 8 years, and especially this eighth year of marriage.  We praise Him for what He's done in our lives and what He will do in the future.  Even if He does nothing more, He's done enough. 
     We took pictures this afternoon on the quad at UNCA with our growing family, like we do every Fall.  That's where we met and it all started.  It will forever hold a special place in our hearts.  After taking pictures we went to Yoshida Express (my personal favorite restaurant) and enjoyed supper together.  We discussed what the next 8 years may hold for us.  We wondered if we'd have two MORE boys in the next 8 years.  Only our sweet Lord knows, but time will tell.  Just for the record, Mark thinks we're going to have 3 boys and 1 girl.  He's said this all along and so far, he's right.  Time will tell.  But we not only hope for 8 more years but at least 88!  We pray for many more years of marriage and look forward to sharing our journey of raising a family with you. :)

We were standing in front of Karpen Hall.  It's where a friend and I would meet Mark after our science class and his economics class.  Little did I know then that this, "crush" I had would lead to a life-long partner.

Love them.