It has been just over two months since Christien and I made our promises to God and said, “I do” with our family and friends as witnesses. As I reflect on the day, I can’t picture it any other way. It was a beautiful summer day, our dearest friends and family surrounded us, we devoured our delicious food and we danced like there was no tomorrow.

Since that day, Christien and I have experienced a whirlwind of changes. We moved from the comforts of the desert to a new terrain that Christien likes to call “God’s Country.” I began my new job and Christien dove headfirst into his MBA studies.

The changes have been challenging and have resulted in a fair share of tears, yet what I continue to meditate on is how my heart feels so full. I feel so loved. I am captivated with a childlike wonder at the pure generosity by the people around us.

“My heart feels so full. I feel so loved. I am captivated with a childlike wonder at the pure generosity by the people around us. ”

The lengths my family, friends, coworkers, and partners have gone to help Christien and I start our marriage on the best foot possible is not humanly comprehendible.

They traveled to our wedding and spent the entire day celebrating with us. They showered us with gifts that have made our new house feel like a home, more so than a college dorm room. They shared prayers, well wishes, and advice we will hold onto with great care.

Packing for our move to Oklahoma was emotionally taxing, my mom and our close friends helped carry the burden. When we arrived at our new address, we walked into a house full of smiling faces ready to unpack, new home essentials and gently worn furniture.

As I started my new job, I became acquainted with my new coworkers – people with great character, a desire to help, and amazing talent. I felt (and still do) like I joined Michael Jordan just as he was hitting his prime.

And with the change, my Sitewire family has continued to share words of affirmation and encouragement. Friends have invited us to dinner. We have shared meals with family. My car battery died, I was able to borrow a vehicle and when I returned home the car and battery were as good as new. And lastly but certainly not least, on Labor Day weekend, Christien and I were blessed with our final wedding celebration. Christien’s Grandma Maggie hosted a splendid wedding shower at her home. My parents and brother even drove down from Illinois for the occasion.

I know this is an exhaustive gratitude list. I share all this because I want you to experience the same love God has shown us. Even when we are least deserving, He shows up through our friends, family, coworkers, and community. This brings me to one of my favorite passages in the Matthew 6:25-34.

“Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

— Bible (New International Version)

I started #CrynesLove as a way to capture moments on our wedding day. As I reflect on the past two months and the days ahead, I realize #CrynesLove is more than an event hashtag, but something that will continue for days to come.