Four years ago today Bryan and I stood on the brink of a new adventure. We stood side by side and took vows together, entering into a covenant with one another and beginning a new journey as husband and wife. That day I felt so overwhelmingly happy and blessed to have Bryan at my side. Today, four years later, we stand on the brink of yet another adventure. We stand side by side, looking forward into very unfamiliar territory, with our hands both resting on my squirming belly. Today also I feel so overwhelmingly happy and blessed to be standing next to Bryan Stedman, walking through life with him, sharing each step of the journey with him, entering parenthood with him.

All I can think and say today is Thank You. Thank you, Lord, for giving me this wonderful man as my husband. Thank you, Bryan, for marrying me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I am humbled and awed and incredibly grateful for the blessing of being married to this man.

Today I was thinking about the words that two dear friends said to us four years ago when they gave us a beautiful cup, that had an underside adorned with little gems… “You are being offered a great gift – the cup of marriage... May you take it, may you drink from it, and as you do, may its beauty be exposed for the delight of God, for the benefit of others, and for all creation…” Today I say, Yes, Lord, may it be so. We are blessed. We are grateful. And we pray that our lives and our marriage would bring God delight, and in turn be a blessing to others and to all creation.  

Rejoicing in the journey - Bethany Stedman