It’s hard to believe that 15 years ago today we stood before our friends and family, publicly joining our lives together, in holy matrimony. I don’t think either of us could have imagined our lives where we are today. But, by God’s grace, we knew we’d be together.
Jesse, my beloved husband, I can’t thank God enough for bringing us together. So many had said, “I would never have put you two together.” You the awkward wall-flower… I the social butterfly. How beautiful it is to see the hand of providence in our lives.
And here we are today, 15 years later, homeschooling our four amazing children in a part of Canada neither of us could have foreseen. Did you ever imagine our having a dog, four barn cats, a milk cow, her heifer, around 30 chickens, and our fifth batch of pigs upcoming? What about the 100 sq. ft garden, and multiple ad-hoc pantries full of peaches, jams, chicken, salsa, marinara sauce, and convenience meals? Can you imagine what else God has in store for us?
Jesse, I pray that God continues to guide our lives, that we will choose to keep Him our centre, and that by our example, our children will do the same.
As a tribute to our 15th anniversary, I wrote a few lines to express how grateful I am that God chose me to be yours.
To Jesse, my love, my husband:
When I am with you:
I feel safe;
I am content;
I feel loved;
I am treasured;
I feel joy;
I am valued.
When I am with you:
I can laugh;
I can cry;
I can be confused;
I can be upset;
I can be angry;
— and not be dismissed.
When I am with you:
I am challenged to think deeper;
I am shown by example how to give grace;
I am shown how much you love me;
I am reminded of what a good man looks like, acts like, speaks like.
When I am with you:
I see a man humble in all his accomplishments;
I see a father desiring to protect and guard the hearts of our children;
I see a man willing to set himself aside to be sure he has heard the whole matter;
I see a deep thinker who strives never to think too highly of himself;
I see a leader among men because he desires to follow his Creator, Lord, God, and Saviour: Jesus Christ.
When I am with you:
I see a man who loves the Lord;
I see an example to our daughters of what a loving husband looks like;
I see an example to our sons of what a true godly man, husband & father looks like;
I see a hardworking man; a diligent man.
When I am with you:
I am reminded of where God has brought me from;
I am reminded of how far we have come;
I am reminded of how much God has changed us for the better;
I am reminded of the sorrows we’ve faced, and how we’ve been brought closer to one another and the Lord because of it;
I am reminded of God’s abundant mercy to us.
When I am with you:
I am seen,
I am loved;
I am encouraged;
I am valued;
I am desired;
I am pursued;
I am wanted;
I am appreciated;
I am satisfied;
I am intimately known.
When I am with you, I am complete.
Charity Hallam, September 26, 2024
Happy Anniversary Jesse <3 I love you dearly.
Beautifully written, Charity. You have a wonderful husband and beautiful children. I am thankful to have known you all of these years. You have come a long way from the girl who sang while putting away movies at Blockbuster. Much love, Whitney
Thank you, Whitney <3 Lots of Love to you too <3
And now Iâm cryingâŚ. Beautifully written âĽď¸
Thank you, my Bosom Friend <3
Amazing to hear and amazing to see your family grow and flourish over the years blessing to you all! May God keep you forever strong togetherâŚamen xo
Thank you, Jennifer đ
God has blessed both of you with each other and a beautiful family. He has used both you to encourage those whose lives youâve touch. Thank you for being an example of walking with God together through the good and the hard times(not âbadâ time- learning/growing times). I love both of you very much, and my grandchildren also!