eleven years

us in bjm_o

Tomorrow Claude and I celebrate eleven years of marriage. I could never do it justice in words.

But there’s this. When asked this summer to name the best decision I’ve even made in my life, what sprung instantly to mind was saying yes to Claude’s wild proposal of marriage. I’ve never regretted our partnership.

We’ve lived between the US and Burundi. We adopted kids. We’re raising kids. We’ve started a network of African friends, two community development projects, a community bank in Burundi, bought and sold a house… walked through the highs/lows, the rough/tumble of life together. And never once did I doubt he was the best fit for me, for life.

Is he perfect? No. Am I perfect? No. Are we being perfected together? Absolutely.

My love for Claude surpasses my capacity of expression… so to quote my daughter I’ll simply say ‘I love him the whole time.’

So how did this all begin? In honor of our eleventh wedding anniversary, and at the gracious invitation of Hopeful Leigh, I’m telling the opening salvo of our love story by contributing to her This Is How We Met series! Click over and read how the romance all began…

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7 thoughts on “eleven years”

  1. Laura
     ·  Reply

    Okay, so I’m working from home today and must continue to create meeting minutes, BUT when my work day is over, I’m so excited to read your “How I Met” post. Love your daughter’s saying, I love him the whole time. Brought tears to my eyes and conveys the power/grace/richness that I believe you intend.

  2. HopefulLeigh
     ·  Reply

    Thank you for being a part of TIHWM! Yours is my favorite one yet and I can’t wait to hear the rest of the story. Happy anniversary!

  3. Nicole Joshua
     ·  Reply

    Happy anniversary Kelley and Claude!

    May God continue to surprise you both with beautiful experiences and adventures! And may He bless you with countless years of love, joy and lots of laughter.

    Lots of love,
    Nicole

  4. cara
     ·  Reply

    “Are we being perfected together? Absolutely.” Now that I love. I had to read over it twice, initially thinking that it said the old “Are we perfect together?” So thank you – it’s beautiful!

    • kelleynikondeha
       ·  Reply

      oh, Cara, definitely in the process of being perfected together season by season, year by year, by God’s ever-present grace!

  5. Diana Trautwein
     ·  Reply

    I am so glad you agreed to post at Leigh’s place and now, of course!! – we all want the rest of the story!! How did that meeting blossom into romance? Where were you married? How did you get to where you are now, living on two continents? You have opened the door, now we want to see all of the story walk right on through. And how I love and appreciate your take on perfection. . . it’s a process, a forever process.

  6. Sean Whiting
     ·  Reply

    Yeah, Nikondehas! Congratulations on eleven years and so many more to come!

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