Today is the celebration of ten years of marriage to the most amazing lady… my wife!

In honor of my amazing bride of ten years I give you… The-Top-Ten-Reasons-I-Love-Being-Married-To-Sherri-Peterson list:

• Sherri is my best friend. No joke, I’d rather hang out with her than anyone else I know. When I’m with her I’m satisfied. When I’m not with her I keep thinking about what she’d think/say/do if she were with me. I love living with her because she’s my best friend.

• Sherri is an amazing mother. It never ceases to amaze me how she can handle four little people with such amazing patience and quality. She prays for them daily; regularly reads books on how to be a better mother; and consistently evaluates her/our parenting methods so that we can get better. She cares more about parenting than anyone I’ve ever known. If our girls grow up to be women like their mother we will have been successful parents.

• Sherri has amazing amounts of common sense. Sherri does not freak out, get overwhelmed, or let circumstances push her around. She has the ability to see things like they are and generally is a calming influence on those around her… namely me! I place high value on her wisdom that regularly displays itself through common sense.

• Sherri is organized. Geeze-O-Man… this lady can take a house with four kids ages 4,3,2, and 2 months, and one man, and one dog… and completely organize it! I give her grief for being “anal” about organization, but the bottom line is… I love it and can’t imagine living any other way.

• Sherri is smarter than I am, but never tells me so. We have a running joke between the two of us – It took me two masters degrees to be able to hang with her! Seriously, I can be wrestling with an issue for hours or days and take it to her and she comes up with the perfect solution… in minutes! The only thing I wish is that she would at least make it look hard! I love talking with her! From church, to leadership, to parenting… my bride is sharp!

• Sherri is content with what she has. Sherri does not complain. When we moved here we sold all of our furniture. For the last month she has been without a kitchen table, etc. (God has graciously provided us with a dinette set within the last week), but she NEVER complained. She has given up a LOT to pursue this calling to plant a church and yet she NEVER complains. It’s not that she’s just swallowing it… she’s really content. She is an amazing lady that deserves the very best but is content with the very least. I could not be the man God wants me to be with anyone less than Sherri. I love this lady.

• Sherri loves the church. We always say, “If you cut us we would bleed church.” I LOVE the church and I am married to someone with the same amount of passion for and commitment to the church as I have. We are committed to and excited about giving the rest of our lives to serving God through the church, and I love that about my bride!

• Sherri insists on excellence. This one costs me sometimes (time, money, energy, etc.) but I love this about my bride! When she does something you know one thing… you won’t need to redo it. From dressing the girls creating a worship environment… this lady works hard for excellence. One thing I deeply appreciate about Sherri is that she has learned to observe priorities. She used to insist on excellence in everything! These days she’s insisting on excellence in the important things, and that’s why I love her!

• Sherri always gets it right when it comes to relationships. I have learned that when Sherri gives relational advice… she’s right. It’s kind of like directions, when she says “turn right” you’d better turn right or you will be apologizing while you do a u-turn down the road. Sherri has a genuine heart for people and, quite frankly, is the female version of Dr. Phil.

• Sherri is committed to following God and leading her family to do the same. My bride is a seeker of God. She loves to worship her Leader (Jesus) and is regularly teaching our children to do so as well. One of her greatest joys is to see “The Ladies” interact with God through song. I would rather stand next to her and “The Ladies” in a worship environment than anyone else I can imagine. I love following our Leader with her.

These last ten years have been amazing years. Sherri has forgiven me, loved me, grown with me, challenged me, held me, confided in me, journeyed with me, and stepped out in faith with me.

We have had four children, pastored in three churches, earned three educational degrees, lived in four states, and done a TON of exciting “stuff” together. It’s been an amazing ten years.

Babe, this year I don’t have much to give except the public proclamation that I have LOVED these last ten years and publicly pledge to you my commitment to make the next ten even better than the last!

Sherri Peterson, I love you.