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10 Years Today

I tell people all the time to get single before they get married.  Most people date someone for a long time and realize the only progression their relationship can take is marriage.

It’s like life is a game of musical chairs and when the music stops, and its time to get married, whoever you happen to be with at the time is the one you will spend your life with.

I am here to tell you there is a better way.

Ten years ago today, the former Tracey Penn took my name and gave me her heart.

When I gave my life to Jesus I gave Him my all.  I gave Jesus my intended career, my identity, and my life plans.  I believed that if God was still alive then He could make it clear to me when I was supposed to get married and to whom.  And one day He did.

People think that if God is behind something it will happen flawlessly.  That could not be farther from the truth.  God is only in things that will collapse without Him.

So in the beginning, Tracey and I had to seek God in our marriage.  We had to allow Him to change who we are.  We had to choose love, choose forgiveness and choose to be husband and wife.

The strongest friendships are built on the backs of conquered adversity.

Our adversity was not from outside, but within.  As we followed the leading of God in parenting, ministry, and life, we had to choose over and over again to love, forgive, trust, bless, honor, respect, encourage, and believe in one another.

Today, Tracey is the closest friend I have ever had.  Our marriage is more open, affectionate, fun, fulfilling, and enjoyable then it has ever been.  Tracey has my total trust.  She has shown me time and again why God chose her for me.  Without her I would not be the man, the minister, or the father I am today.

I am eternally grateful that you took my name and gave me your heart.

Tracey I love you.

Always and Forever.

It’s Great to be a Dad

Cheerleading clinic and basketball tournament.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Thomas Family.
Carl, Tracey, Isaac and Anastasia

Happy Birthday Isaac

9 years ago today Isaac made me a father.  Isaac came into the world in dramatic fashion in what would be a prelude to his entire life.

I love you son.  I tell you this all the time but you make me happy and I am glad you are in my life.

We are going to take him bowling at 2 p.m. at the former Don Carter in Boca.  If you are bored, feel free to stop by and say happy birthday.

10 Years Ago Today

10 years ago today was a fairly nervous one for me.

November 19, 1999 I had my first date with the former Tracey Penn at 8:30 p.m.  Folks are normally nervous on the first date but I had a few other issues.

God had told me that Tracey was supposed to be my wife.  I prayed and knew that I knew that it was God.  So I asked Tracey out on a date.  She called me back a few days later and said that she would go.  It may be nerve wracking enough to go on the first date with someone that you think you are supposed to marry.  I mean, what if the date does not go well?  What if you don’t take them to a nice enough restaurant?  What if you go for the good night kiss and they thought you were going for the good night hug?  That would be awkward!    Lots of stuff could go wrong.

I had another plan.  I was not going to ask for a second date.  I was going to propose.

So late in that Friday afternoon, I found myself at the Jewelery Exchange.  Remember all that Y2K nonsense that happened around that time?  Well, if you weren’t churched, you have no idea how big of a deal it was.  I had recently graduated college and was living with my mother while I figured where I wanted to live so I had some coin in the bank.  I called it my Y2K fund.

Jesus never said anything about Y2K, but He did tell me to marry Tracey.  So on that Friday afternoon, with Y2K fund in hand,  I was shopping at the Jewelery Exchange for the perfect ring (turned out to be a 3/4 carrot VVS solitaire diamond in a white gold Tiffany setting).

I decided against taking my Ford Probe and rented a Cadillac, booked the corner table in a restaurant overlooking the intercoastal, had a dozen roses on the table, bought chocolate, and picked her up.

In between the meal and the dessert, on our first date, I got on one knee with ring in hand and proposed.  She said yes and we spent the rest of the night talking about how God has independently shown us who we were to marry (fortunately for me we were talking about each other).

We were married three months later and had Isaac nine months after that.  At that point it was official: I had her locked in.  Life has in no way turned out the way we thought it would on that night but it has been great living it with my best friend.

Tracey is a wonderful wife and mom.  I could not be the man or minister (or father) I am today without her.

I love you honey.  Can’t wait to see what happens in the next ten.

Tracey prays for Anastasia at her birthday party

Tracey prays for Anastasia at her birthday party

Gonna Be Preachin in Columbus, Ga

Mark your calendar for July 29 if you live near Columbus, Ga. I will be preaching at Edgewood Assembly of God that night.

This is part of the great Thomas family roadtrip Summer 2009.

I preached at Edgewood 2 years ago and had a great time.

My Briliant Children

The last two days were pretty good ones as far as parenting goes.

Yesterday, I went to Isaac’s awards ceremony where he made the Principal’s honor roll.

This is where he has been posted all year.

We are so proud how Isaac has become so creative this year.

Then today, I went to watch Anastasia get her award for Principal’s honor roll.

Anastasia taught herself to read a couple years ago and she helped teach other kids to read this year.

Then she was given the math award for being one of two top math students in her class.

Besides being the cutest kids in the world they are bright as well.  I could not be happier with them.

On Vacation

By the time you read this I will be somewhere in the Carribean on the Carnival Imagination.

My wife and I have not had a vacation since our honeymoon nine years ago.  We can’t really afford this vacation but we fell like God is telling us to invest in our marriage and time alone is definately part of that.

So, like a good son, I am obeying my father and taking a cruise.

9 Years Ago Today

February 19 2000 I married my bride.

I am a fortunate man.  Today my marriage is better than it ever has.  Our love is more passionate than ever.  We understand each other better than ever.  We communicate better than ever.  We are more in love than ever.

I feel like we are just beginning in what God has called us to do as a couple.

For years I had a ministry and Tracey took care of the house.

Today I do most of the ministering and Trace primarily takes care of the house.  But we both minster more than ever, and we both take care of the house more than ever.

For those who have heard otherwise, let me tell you that marriages can get better and better.

As we enter year 10 of our covenant I can’t wait to see what God is going to do.

I love you Tracey!  Cant wait to see what God does in and through us.