Today my wife and I will celebrate 22 years of marriage. 5 kids (His and hers-no ours…) and 7 grandchildren we made it this far.

A lot of people who bet against us, lost. Our own community back then,  on so many levels turned against us. We had to figure out a lot of things on our own. For each us, both had gone through not one, but two failed marriages. We each knew the pain of divorce and children living apart.

But today we cross 22 years.

If you have known us for any length of time, you know that it has not always been easy. We have gone through deaths, long term hospitalizations, children and their own set of thought process, ex-spouses and a number of other things.

But, the key to our marriage has been God. More than anything else, He has empowered us to be. Add in the value of a loving church family over the years and we had a lot of help. We are so thankful for those who walked with us when it seemed like we could not. Who undergirded us in prayer when the going got tough. Who reached out to us when we needed it.

The result has been our wonderful children and our 7 grandchildren. We are blessed. Unlike many families we see our children and our grandchildren often. We are proud of them and their endeavors.

Life does not always go the way you think. The 2AM call of a child in the hospital. The destruction and subsequent loss of a home. The pain of a sick child or an ailing parent. The loss of long term jobs and friends.

We were being blended as the blended family…

Tina and I made a decision a long time ago that no matter how bad it got, we would not pass o separation or divorce to our children. And folks, let me tell you, that alone has been a challenge once or twice! But someone has to break the cycle. Someone needs to stop the “bleed”.

So, here we are. Our day will be pretty typical on some levels.One of us will go to work and the other will interview for a job. A grandchild will come to visit for the night. And year 23? We are going to win this one too!

Thanks to all our friends and family and to God!

Written by Lee Johndrow

Lee is the Senior Leader of Abundant Grace Fellowship Church in Keene, NH

He is the father of five wonderful children. Married for over 26 years to his wife Tina. Loving life with family, friends, faith, fun and food!