It’s a Wonderful Life!!!

CANNOT believe it has been nearly a YEAR since I’ve POSTED here!! Whoa! Time FLIES when you’re having FUN and facing challenges, AND just Livin’ life everyday the best you can!  

It has been an incredible year. And right at this moment I am feeling blessed beyond measure. “It’s a Wonderful Life!!!”  

I hope, hope, hope the same for you – so sincerely.

Part of the reason I feel so completely, over-the-top blessed lately is because of my husband.  

(This is a pic of us last weekend when Mike surprised me with a favorite dinner at the place he asked my parents permission to marry me and then took me to the theatre that we used to attend as newlyweds -well it’s grown and moved a couple blocks-  to see a play of my favorite, “Its a Wonderful Life!”.) 

You marry a person that has become really special to you in SUCH FAITH!! Trusting that you, and they, will do all you can to love & be true to one another. You know they are free, as are you, to make choices, to grow, to change along the way. You HOPE they will choose to grow in good ways, the way you are TRYING to also.  You HOPE the two of you will grow together in all the happiest ways as you go. 

I know, have witnessed with heartache, that there are many who hurt and disappoint their spouses and/or children. It breaks my heart, and please know I have no intention of adding to pain by sharing my joy here on our family blog.  I know their are many heroic spouses who are waiting patiently on their loved ones through great illness, loss, frustration and pain even as we speak. My heart and prayers go out to you if you are in the middle of such a heavy trial. I do not mean to make it heavier by sharing here, only to spread happiness and hope and my own personal gratitude toward God. Please know that. Please know there are many hoping & praying for you, and I know there can, and WILL, be future happiness for you.  

I’m overcome in gratitude lately for the man I chose to trust with my heart and life, with my future and my family.  So much so that I just want to share it today!! The first night I met Michael Voss I thought, “That’s the kind of man I want to marry.” But I considered him way too good for me! (Guess what?! I STILL do!  I wonder how I’ll ever be good enough to be worthy of the blessing of HIM.)  When we married I knew within me he was a marvelous person, but I did not know HOW marvelous! I began finding that out, day by day, month by month, year by year.  I am STILL finding it out!! 

I’m just so deeply grateful for the choices he has made on a daily basis that have brought us more and more joy as a family.  Happiness, but even more, the hard things in life, have shown me who he really is, what he is made of, what he really truly cares about most.  Life’s ups, but even more life’s downs, have shown me his noble spirit, his willingness to sacrifice and work so hard for Father-in-Heaven, for our family, for the forlorn, for the good of the future. 

I have seen his strength of spirit and physical stamina time and time and time again; his choice again and again has been to “look up”, to “Look to God and Live!” This has been our family motto and this way of heart sustains him and gives him strength beyond his own in challenging moments. As a Dr and church servant with 10 children, you can imagine there have been sleepless nights in which he has met the needs of others nearly all night long.  (Most of you have probably experienced this yourself!)  One morning after several such a nights, I looked over at him resting briefly just before dawn. I felt so concerned for him and wondered how he would ever make it through another early morning and long day with such little rest and such great burdens on his shoulders. I quietly posed the question out loud as he slept. His eyes closed, nothing moving but his mouth, in a very gruff and sleepy, but absolutely certain voice, he gave me answer, “The Lord is my strength.”  I smiled. I knew he would make it through.

How can you not just LOVE a man like that?? He has chosen through trials to ‘keep his chin up’, so to speak, with a “brightness of hope”, an optimism that seems almost just inherent to his being. I believe though, that it’s something you can decide and develop, because his example has made me better at it.

I love how he is so humble, unassuming, and down to earth.  He has a handle on what is real.  I have seen how his logic and common sense plan things well and carefully but sometimes tell him “it just won’t work.”  I admire how he often wisely chooses to step beyond those limitations in faith and BELIEVE in God-given ideals and in His miracles too.  I have seen this motivate him to get to work, trusting in God to make things work out.  I have seen this faith carry him far beyond the obvious possibilities time and time again. I’ve seen him work with a will to persevere and attain most any healthy, helpful goal. 

I have admired him in so many settings of life. I have relied upon him as my hero a trillion times and more. I have looked up to him and hoped so often I could do more and be better for him.  I have seen just how much he is willing to sacrifice for me, for the good of his children, for the service of his fellow-beings.  I have seen time and time again that he is a rock -for certain built on His rock- and how that firm foundation holds him steady through the various storms of life. 

Is he perfect? No. I have to say he has some endearing faults and a few slightly annoying flaws ;).  He actually humbly works on eliminating those and wins more admiration from me that way every year! It only increases my desire to be better for him.  I have seen him so humbly always wish to improve, he is working consistently on improving. Through our little faults and follies we have stumbled along together, learning as we go, rejoicing all along in being able to take this journey together.  

I appreciate so very much that he has always listened to me and taken my words and will and hopes and dreams seriously.  Taken them to heart…and even made them come true. May I be so humble and willing to listen in return!! 

I love how he LOVES: Pure and committed. Humble and true. Loyal. No matter what. 

If you can’t tell,  I’m more in love than ever with my handsome husband of 23 years and just so grateful that I can’t get over it!! I just feel it is the most marvelous blessing -one of the very best in my life, the blessing that’s MADE my life!- to be his, sealed to him for time and all eternity. May we keep growing together, in all the happiest ways, forever!! “It’s a Wonderful Life”!! 

Sincerely, CaMarie

PS Share your love and appreciation with your spouse, parent, child, or friend today! 

PPS We pick up Emily and Anna from their missions this morning!! After a year and a half of full-time, dedicated service to God and the people of CA & OR we get to see them again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My heart couldn’t be happier!!!!!