Tenth Anniversary

Today. Ten years ago today. I was twenty years old. Still in college. Fresh-faced, round cheeked and happy.

I married the man of my dreams.

He was twenty-three. So much older and wiser. Six months out of college. Baby-faced and happy.

We married.

In our little Mennonite Church where we both grew up. Poor as church mice, barely a cent to our name. We married.

A little city house was purchased, and wall paper was peeled and scraped. Stairs were sanded down. Three whole rooms were ready when our day came.

The wedding was simple. Our little church wedding. I giggled through most of the ceremony.



Words were said, kisses given and received. Uniting us together. Til death do us part.

Ten years ago. Today.

FLASH SALE

Let me cut right to the chase then give you the story afterwards.

I have two CUSTOM listings that I am marking $10 off for one day only. Monday, October 26, 2015 in the morning until 11:59 PM the following two signs will be reduced. All sales must be made through Etsy. These signs may take up to 8 (EIGHT) weeks to be finished depending upon the volume of orders. They will all be made and ship/be ready for pick up prior to Christmas. If you want to pick up your sign use the code PICKUP at checkout on Etsy. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS CODE IF YOU ARE NOT PICKING UP!!! In the drop down menu I listed the most frequently purchased colors. If you do not see the color you would like simply choose "other" and in the Notes to Seller box at check out write out the color you would like instead using the color sample chart that is pictured in the last photo of the listing.

1.) Regularly $40+tax, this one is marked to $30+tax. (Click link below for full information)

Personalized Mark 10:9

2.) Regularly $35 reduced to $25. This is a STEAL!!!

Order this sign HERE!

Now the fun part. The story. Many of you may know that the past week my husband and I have been gallivanting in Charlottesville, Virginia, acting as though we haven't a care in the world, let alone four children! And why? We were celebrating!! December 17, Trent and I will be married for ten years. In honor of our tenth anniversary I am marking these two signs, which recognize the value of a committed, Christ-centered marriage, down by TEN dollars. 

This idea popped into my head months ago when we started planning our trip. Originally I wanted to have the sale on our anniversary, but that is the very end of the busiest time of the year for Mama Hess. (I mean, who gets married the week before Christmas?? Oh yeah, us crazy, in love kids.)  So, there you have it. A great sale for you and a fun way to encourage your marriage, or a loved one's marriage!  I can't wait to see the colors each of you choose for your special sign.

 So: happy {early} anniversary to us and merry {early} Christmas to y'all! Look for a blog post of our trip - hopefully soon!!

A Cord of Three Strands

^{I've been thinking a lot about marriage these days. Mostly new marriages since "wedding season" has come upon us in full force. Nearly all of my orders are related to weddings. I originally painted this sign as a belated wedding gift. I painted the braided rope directly onto the sign.} 

 

^{It's only natural that I would think of weddings as I paint signs like this. I love these verses from Ecclesiastes chapter 4. Read them in the HCSB version: 
11} Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? ¹² And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

 I've recently had several request through my Etsy store for a version of this sign but with an eye hook so the couple can braid a cord during their wedding ceremony. Here is one I just completed and will be shipping to Georgia in the next couple of days. **A Cord of Three strands in my Etsy Store.**

Painting these signs has given me an awesome opportunity to pray for the people who will receive them. Most of the people who will see these signs and touch these signs and braid these strands will be people I will never meet. As many of you know, the divorce rate, even among Christian couples, is staggering. It's devastating. As a child of divorced parents I know what it feels like to have brokenness in something that is supposed to stay whole.

It has really been on my heart recently to pray for marriages. For my own marriage, for those just starting out, and those struggling. I don't even pretend to know the particulars in others' relationships, but I like to believe what Ecclesiastes 4:12 alludes to: two people (in this case a husband and a wife) and Christ. With Christ as the third strand in our cord, I believe it is not easily broken. I understand there are challenges that go along with marriages. There are financial burdens, stressful careers, homes to care for, children, dishes, messes, laundry, dinners, church commitments, etc. Life has only seemed to get busier the longer we are married. But there ARE ways to keep Christ right there with us. It is possible to stay connected to your spouse in the midst of busy lives. 

I just want to offer a little bit of encouragement to those of you out there who are married to make an effort to love on your spouse today. Go out of your way to show them that you love them.