Long time readers (you know who you are), know that I refer to my wife as WunderWife. Today, I want to introduce you to the amazing woman behind WunderWife, Jennifer…or as I call her, Jen.

Today is our 12th wedding anniversary.

Looking back, I do not even recognize the two 22 year old kids that said “I do” and started down the adventurous road of marriage.

Just kids

I have known Jen since I was 5 years old, which means I have known my in-laws for just as long…and I cannot imagine it being any other way. When I see my friends get nervous about meeting their significant others parents, I have no idea what they are going through. Jen’s family has been just one step below my natural family for my entire life.

In 1983, my family moved back to Albany, Georgia from California. Jen’s family stayed out west until 1987. From 1983 till the summer of 1987, I went to our small church school. There were only a few girls my age at the school and hormones would hit around 1985-ish. I remember that we were swimming at the pastor’s house in 1987 when Jen and her family walked through the back gate and back into my life. They had only recently moved back from California and this was the first time I had seen her in 4 years.

I was floored. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. All us guys immediately started showing off for her and her sister.

Later that summer I summoned enough courage to call her. I was at my buddy’s house and he was egging me on to give her a call. I remember dialing all but the last number multiple times. Just like in the movies. When I finally hit that last number I was praying her dad would not answer the phone. No dice, he answered and I meekly asked for Jen.

She was my first real girlfriend. We held hands for the first time at the roller-skating rink during couples skate.

Alas, it was not meant to be and she broke up with me a few months into our “relationship”. I say it that way because after all, I was just in the 8th grade, what did I know about relationships or love? I knew one thing, I loved her and I told my friends that I would marry her one-day.

We ended up dating one other time in high school. We were just still kids:

I wish I was still that thin

Alas, she dumped me again.

See, there was something different about Jen. She was not like the other girls. I would tell other girls I loved them in order to get to first base, but when I told her I loved her, she would tell me “Thank you”. I was puzzled. I finally asked her one day what the deal was and she told me that she was only going to say “I love you” when she found the right person who she would give her heart to. Until then, it was not love, but thanks for feeling that way.

Like I said, she was different. I was hooked.

Just as I was about to graduate high school in 1992 I went through some extensive changes in my life. I was a changed man. This was the first of several incremental changes in my life. Changes for the better.

Jen noticed my change, but I did not notice her. I had given up. Not on her, but on me. I figured I had blown my last chance with her, so I settled the idea in my mind that we would just be friends.

Apparently, she mentioned her interest in me to her mom, who mentioned it to my mom, who mentioned it to my sister. My sister mentioned how jealous Jen had been about some girl coming around to talk to me. I was oblivious. When I finally put two and two together, I was thrilled! Would I actually have another chance with her? I remember very humbly asking her out, just as friends. She said yes and we began a whirlwind 4-week romance as I was set to leave for college in a month.

We had the best time. We had been through so much and were such good friends that we spent every waking hour with each other. Finally, the time came to say goodbye.

The night before I left for college

That night, I figured I had nothing to lose, so I waited until the end of the night when I looked over at her and said, “I love you” and I meant it. She said, “I love you too”. You can imagine how excited I was. She had picked me. She loved me!

School sucked. I would only see her every other weekend. That worked out to about 4 days a month. We did that for 3 years.

We finally got engaged and looked forward to our wedding.

I still remember our wedding. I remember how my heart jumped when I saw her come through the doors. I remember how hot it was. I remember being so excited to see all our friends and family. I remember running through the hail of rice. I remember the excitement of our honeymoon. I will always remember the way Jen looked. She was radiant.

Wow! Marriage was hard.

I was still in school and she was working. We hardly saw each other and we had separate friends. At times my life seemed to be spiraling out of control and I wonder if the family back home was taking bets on when she would leave my sorry ass.

I was a sorry ass. I was a jerk. I was immature. I was unkind and selfish. I failed to treat Jen the way she deserved.

Jen was solid as a rock.

School finally ended and I started working with the railroad. I was constantly on the road, being gone 2 weeks out of every month.

I was living way below my potential. I knew it and Jen knew it.

I finally got my sorry self to church where I started to get help and we were able to have common friends and a good support network. Our marriage started to change for the better as I began to get my life together. Soon, it was time for kids and we had Nathan (aka WunderKid1) in July of 2000.

It was not too long later when I started to figure out who I was. I figured this out because of the total awesomeness that is my wife. I knew I had a jewel when I married her, but it was seeing her as a mother that made me fully understand how below my potential I was living. She was my inspiration. My admiration of her was huge.

By the fall of 2000, I was looking for a new job in order to get off the road and to move home to Albany. In March of 2001 we were back home.

March 2002, brought Charlie (aka WunderKid2).

4 days before he was born, I made a change that has totally transformed our marriage. I finally dealt with some lingering issues in my life that were still hampering my Christian walk. I did not tell Jen about the change, but she began to notice them.

Summer of 2004 brought Madi (aka WunderKid3). She was born with a clubbed foot and it was amazing to see how Jen carried herself through that tough time.

At the end of October 2005, Jen came home from a church ladies retreat a changed woman.

She was amazingly strong in her faith and was on fire and like I had never seen her before. I did not understand all that was going on, but I knew from my life with her, that she was on to something big.

Around Christmas 2005, I had an amazing encounter with God in my den that has changed my entire life. One day I will go into all that has happened, but lets just say that Jen and I will never be the same again. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Jen has been a continual part of my life since 1987. Every major event and change, every up and down, she has been there. Sometimes we were together, other times I was alone, but she has always been there.

Jen, I am eternally indebted to you for the example you have been to me over all these years, for all yours prayers, patience and most importantly, your forgiveness.

The only reason we are still married and that we survived those early years is because of you and the mercy of the Lord.

Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for constantly pointing me back to the truth. Thank you for standing up to me. Thank you for second and third chances. Thank you for the way you carry yourself. Thank you for my three four (ed. note - can’t leave off Mei) wonderful children. Thank you for the way you help me be a good dad. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for standing with me when the entire world wanted me dead.

Thank you.

I know I can’t undo the harm and hurt from the first 5 years of our marriage, but I also know that all of that is covered by the blood of Jesus.

I do stand by the last 7 years though!

I love you baby and I am the luckiest guy in the entire world.

Happy Anniversary!

Here’s to another 12 years and more!