Ten years ago today my wife Rachel and I started dating. I can still remember it as if it were yesterday:

I tagged along with Rachel and her friend to see Scary Movie 4 (ha!). I don’t think she had any idea how I felt about her until during the movie I reached over and held her hand (give me a break I was 17). Fast forward Ten years and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect person to spend my life with. Here are just a few things about her that I’m consistently blow away by.

Her Beauty

She’s beautiful inside and out, one of the kindest most truly-beautiful people I know

Her quest for adventure

Not many girls will put on a helmet from the 70’s and go charging through the woods on an ATV, she loves it. We have fun.

She is a mother in every sense of the word

She loves being a mom, and is an absolutely incredible one. On top of working twelve-hour shifts at Childrens Hospital in Detroit she carries the responsibility of being an incredible mom to Emery. she loves our beautiful daughter and lives to see her loved and provided for. I couldn’t be more proud of her.

It’s true

Wedding anniversaries are special for their own reasons, but to be able to say at 27 that I have dated my wife for ten years is incredible, and I’m so lucky to have married my high school sweetheart. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Thank you Lord for providing me with the perfect best friend to spend my days, weeks, months and years with.

Iloveyourachel.

2009 was a year that most will never ever forget, and for obvious reasons. As I look back on this year and even this decade, I can’t help but be thankful for the ways in which God has provided and led, all the while making himself known in my life.

God, thanks from the bottom to the top of my heart for:

Emery Daniella Collesano born Feb. 6th 2009

Another amazing year with my wife and best friend Rachel

The Outloud EP which released Oct. 2009

The completion of a Bachelors degree: Dec. 2009

The opportunity to lead thousands of your people in passionate worship at NorthRidge Church

I can’t wait to see how God will lead and move in 2010………Josh

It’s been happening more and more, and as each day goes by, she gets better at it.

Moments like these remind me of how important milestones are in ones life.

We must celebrate the “wins”

Our beautiful daughter Emery is 8 months old today. It’s hard to believe that 8 short months ago God’s smile got just a little bigger as he gave us Emery. Rachel and I can’t imagine life without her now, she’s the biggest blessing to our family and brings us more joy that we could ever deserve. Thanks God for giving us such a gift as this.

2. Fee’s “Hope Rising”

Fee’s “Hope Rising” released this morning. As I write this post I’m almost done listening through it for the first time… wow! Make sure to get your copy today (click the image). With the release of “Hope Rising” Steve Fee and band are giving The Church a fresh collection of songs centered around the theme of hope. Personally I cannot wait to introduce most of these songs to NorthRidge.

3. Ephesians 1: 5-8

Yesterday I camped out in this passage:

⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. ⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. ⁷ He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. ⁸ He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

I’m comforted by this passage but also challenged to continually live a life that recognizes this truth.

I am constantly reminded of the joy that life can bring. Of all places these constant reminders come from the expressions of my beautiful daughter. At almost 8 months old every day is filled with excitement, adventure, discovery and a passion for life itself. Even though she doesn’t know it, she inspires me to chase after those very same things.

It’s time we worry less, live more, find some joy today…

Seeing how tall Emery is… she’s “2 ft. and a few inches” I think?

Emery is excited to hold the cider jug (even though she can’t have any). I’m constantly amazed by her curiosity to try new things and experience anything she can get her hands on

This is my beautiful wife Rachel. She’s the best mom in the world, and an even better wife and best friend. We had a blast at the cider mill up until Rachel was stung by a bee.

So what did you do this weekend?

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