What a great start to my time with all the good folks of the Gilmer Church of Christ. God certainly blessed us today with a wonderful beginning to our week together.

I even got an extra special surprise this morning when, about 10 minutes into teaching during Sunday School, my mom and dad walked into the church building. They had rolled out of bed at their home at 4:30 a.m. and made the 3 1/2 hour drive to be there. We had a great lunch together and it was just all-around special to be in the presence of God and His people with my parents.

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Dear Princess,

12 years ago today, you blessed me with the second greatest gift of my life. 12 years ago today, in Rick and Keely's front yard, you committed to spend the rest of your life with me as my wife. My bride. My angel.

What a 12 years its been, huh? We've been on the receiving end of two wonderful bundles of love from God, Trae and Tori. We've lived together in four states. We've bought three homes and built one. We've made memories on every coast. We laughed together, cried together, fought together, gotten mad together, prayed together, sang together, worshipped together, served together.

We've shared life together.

I'll never forget the day I first saw you behind those aviator sunglasses. From the first glance, my heart raced at your beauty -- beauty that has only been enhanced in my eyes with the passing of time. It was your physical beauty that stole my eye away at first. And twelve years later, it is the beauty of your entire personality that I've come to cherish and am so madly in love with. From your sense of humor to the wonderful mommy you are to our girls to those cute dimples in your chin when you smile, I am as smitten today as I was on that autumn afternoon when I first saw you.

Thank you for loving me. For supporting me. For praying for me. For putting up with me.

Your love coupled with God's love is the three-stranded cord that completes me.

Happy Anniversary Baby Doll!
I Love You,

Jim