Family Life & Stories

Happy Birthday to the Love of My Life

Thursday, March 7, 2013

It's incredible to think that my husband Jos and I met 18 years ago — at my 15th birthday party. Today is his birthday, and I'm so thankful for this man. I've known him longer than I haven't, and that still amazes me.

He loves God and his family. He's a hard worker, an amazing provider, and he supports all my ideas — even the experiments we're constantly trying around here. He has such a great spirit and I'm blessed to walk through life with him.

Family milestones often begin in the most unexpected places, and the story of a couple who first met at a fifteenth birthday party reminds us how ordinary moments can grow into lifelong commitments. Years later, celebrating a birthday together carries the weight of shared history — the quiet mornings, the big decisions, the everyday routines that weave two lives into one. For families navigating the ups and downs of marriage and parenthood, these personal reflections offer a gentle reminder that love is built slowly, through patience, faith, and the willingness to support one another's dreams, even when those dreams involve a few experiments along the way.

A home is more than its furniture and decor; it is the atmosphere created by the people who live within its walls. From the bedding that comforts a restless child to the dining table that gathers the family for meals, every detail contributes to a sense of belonging. When couples celebrate anniversaries and birthdays, they often find themselves revisiting the spaces where memories were made — the living room where conversations stretched late into the night, the bedroom where quiet talks happened, the kitchen where laughter filled the air. These shared spaces become the backdrop for the stories families tell for generations.

For those seeking inspiration in their own homes, the idea of blending personal touches with thoughtful design can transform a house into a sanctuary. Whether it is adding a canopy to a child's bed, choosing artwork that reflects family values, or selecting a comfortable sofa for evening gatherings, the choices families make together shape their daily lives. Trends come and go, but the constants remain: a commitment to one another, a faith that anchors the household, and a willingness to grow together through every season. These are the foundations upon which beautiful homes — and beautiful families — are built.

March Celebrations

March is a big month for our family. Alongside Jos's birthday, we also celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary and my own birthday — all packed into one joyful season.

Eighteen years of knowing each other, eleven years of marriage, and four beautiful children later, I'm more grateful than ever for the life we're building together.