Happy Anniversary to us!

The summer of 1993, Kevin and I became good friends.  We were part of our youth group's worship band together and hung out a lot at the church practicing and preparing for each weeks worship service.  Then in the fall we went to a DC Talk/Audio A. concert in Bismarck with our youth group!  Woot!  On the way back, we shared our first kiss.  The next day we were back up at the church and as we sat in the foyer visiting, Kev popped the question, "So.  Are we goin' out, or what?"  :)  Yup!  Sounded good to both of us!  17 years ago!

1995, at Bestamor's house

We dated for the next three years.  Kept playing in the youth worship band and then taught Super Church, too.  (Those kids have graduated now!!)  Graduated from high school.  Spent a year (or two) in college at UND.  Then decided it was time to be married!  August 17th, 1996:  Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Crawford!

Jill and Kevin Crawford

Fast forward 17 years...  Joshua (our first son is born and dies, 2 months old), Crimson (campus church plant), four more kids, rock concerts, camps, Valley Christian Center, two college degrees, music, musicals, recording, Bible studies, MOPS, Riverside Christian school, kids programs, traveling, youth group, church board, web work, football parties, teaching, preaching, itinerating, Masters degree, moving, homeschooling, missions...

for our 14th wedding anniversary, we took Rocky in for surgery...  :)

Now I have been with Kevin as long as I have been without him!  17 years on each side!  Happy, sad, good, bad...  for better or for worse.  Our vows said something like, together we will serve God and others as long as we both shall live.  (I have them printed out and framed, but they're in the states so I can't grab them for the exact quote!  Doh.  I should have memorized them, huh?!)  :)

for our 17th dating anniversary,

we drove up to the Armenian/Georgian border with our kids

Benjamin, Elijah, Ruth, and Hannah

By "our" family letter:  the "C/K" sound for Crawford

Sept. 16, 2010

For our wedding we chose Psalm 126:3  The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.  Has done.  Is doing.  Will do...  so that together we may serve.  Whoo!  We didn't picture ourselves overseas with four kids 17 years ago...  I wonder where we'll be and what we'll be doing together, serving, in the next 17 years?!  Abundant life, baby!

Happy Anniversary to us!