Douwpro

Dit reën vandag, en hier is ons steeds op die pad terug van Houtbaai...ry tog veilig almal.

Intussen... In my vorige post, dai foto by die beach was geneem in 2010...die onderstaande een was onlangs.

Just one last post about our wedding anniversary.

(sit maar die ketel aan vir die post)

Over the years, I have witnessed many weddings, and I carried pieces of those messages home with me. One thing I know for certain, our marriage was never built on perfection.

What we have sustained was never by our own strength. It was by the grace of the Holy Spirit, by calling on the Name above every name, JESUS CHRIST, who carried us when our own strength ran out. In Christ, we built something that endured every season. Some of those seasons came as arguments, tears, silence, uncertainty, and constant prayer. But GOD.

Yesterday, I did not only think about the years. I thought about the moments. One day, when life has run its course and we lie on our deathbed, I believe we will not speak first of numbers, but of moments. Moments where we should have been softer. Moments where we should have listened better. Moments where we should have forgiven faster, taken the chance, loved deeper, prayed longer. Life is made of moments. Marriage too. That is why, when I take photographs, I created the slogan without conviction, "Your moments, my focus."

GOD remains our witness. By His mercy and blessing, we said I do 11 years ago.

Look at us now. Uitgeswel, older, marked by life, yet still held together by something deeper than feeling and stronger than circumstance. Always seeking understanding and solution driven.
I cannot imagine a life without you.

Marriage is hard work. A happy, peaceful, understanding marriage even more so.
Our marriage has officially entered the teenage stage. As Ek kan sê... Die way forward vir elke huwelik vanaf 7 jaar moet al op so n wyse volwasse kom word it dat man en vrou niks meer "baby tantrums" gooi as die een nie sy way kry nie. Dai silent treatment is n intimacy killer.
We set an appointment and talk things out no matter how uncomfortable, we Listen to understand and not respond.

Jul kan hoe lief wees vir mekaar, maar as daar nie begrip is nie, raak die pad swaar. Liefde alleen dra nie altyd die las nie.

Om mekaar werklik te verstaan, om ruimte te maak vir mekaar se seer, vrese, groei en stilte, dit is waar die diepte van n huwelik lê.
Dit is daar waar liefde ophou om net n gevoel te wees, en begin om n geestelike verbond te word.

Die pad is nog lank - we celebrate the "moments."
Alle eer aan die Here JESUS CHRISTUS.

Cheers!

November 2010... sjoe maar dit is lank terug.
Years after years of silence since our Mxit days, she reached out and asked if I would join her for church.
I declined.

Life had plans of its own.

She reached out again, suggesting we hang out.
I said yes, but on one condition. No movies. No restaurants. Let’s go to Strand. Bare feet in the sand.
Comfortable. Unrushed. Just a long walk and honest conversation. Because talking, real talking is how you discover someone’s heart, their dreams, their vision, and their expectations of life.

An hour passed in nonstop conversation, and somewhere between the waves and words, I realized: this girl is interesting.

Side note:
This is the girl who didn’t mind that the guy had no driver’s licence, couldn’t drive, and had no car at all.
I even asked her straight, “Doesn’t it bother you that I don’t have a car, a licence, or can’t even drive?”
She smiled and said, “No… you’ll have it soon. And I would’ve been a foolish girl to give up just because I wasn’t patient with the process.”

That moment sealed it for me.

18 April 2011 — I asked her to be mine.
18 April 2015 — we said I do.

This post isn’t just about celebrating my wife.

It’s a reminder to anyone reading this: prepare yourself for a partner by being the partner you’re praying for. Have discernment. You will meet many people, find a few interesting ones, but there will be that one who is far too special to let go. When you find them, DO NOT HESITATE. Put a ring on it. Invite the Lord, who created heaven and earth, to bless your marriage.

Love is real. Marriage is real too and yes, sometimes marriage can be ugly. Not because love fades, but because understanding can misalign. You can love deeply, but without understanding, the journey becomes heavy. Respect each other. Grow together, not only in size (because let’s be honest… julle eet te veel uit man 😂), but in maturity, patience, and grace. Groei en bou mekaar!

Today, 18 April, I document this milestone so that one day, if I am no longer here, my son can read this and know:

Dad meant what he lived.
And he lived what he loved under the authority of Christ Jesus.

She does not only sing. She leads people into surrender, prayer, and presence. Michelle Bobbits