I was 24 years old and she was 23. Seems so young now but at the time we didn’t think so. And It’s been an amazing 10 years together…really 13 years…we dated for 3 before getting married. There is something so special about her and I saw it the first time we met. She was flat out beautiful and so full of life (and still is both). An incredible gift to my life. I just don’t know what I would be doing without her…completely lost. So Jesus, I thank you for Leslie.

For our 10th Anniversary I am actually in Uganda of all places. So we are planning to get away to the beach by ourselves next weekend. But with a little help from Wi-Fi in Amsterdam, time-released blog posting and twitter I hope to give her this gift.

So Leslie, Here’s a little something I put together for you. I have missed you so much in these last two weeks and can’t wait to see your face and hold you when I get home tomorrow afternoon. I love you so much babe. And tell the kids I miss them so much and will be home soon. These have been the best 10 years of my life. Happy Anniversary! I love you – Josh

10 Year Anniversary from Josh Agerton on Vimeo.

(PS Leslie, You’re probably wondering how I got this thing posted today.  I did it from Amsterdam on the 13th and set it up to post on the 22nd.  Love You!)

Leslie has been a mom now for over 5 years.  I’ve seen her carry all three of our children with love in her own body.  And then I watched her I give birth to our son Benjamin and then our twins, Liza and Grace.  That alone is an impressive feat.  I’ve seen her pray over all three of our kids night after night.  And I’ve watched her go on completely exhausted from sleepless nights of calming fears and comforting hearts…all with a beautiful smile and lots of laughs.

She makes lunches, cleans up poop, washes little people’s clothes, mops the floor, cleans up throw-up, makes beds, cleans bathrooms, plans meals, buys groceries, checks out teachers, and gets three little ones dressed every day.  She teaches, nurtures, listens, laughs, disciplines, and prays all day long for each of them.  And all of this she does with a joy that I know no other to have.

Aside from all of this (which is really so much more that I have written here), she works as a Speech Pathologist to help provide finances for our family.  And she loves those kids she serves like crazy too.

But then it keeps going…she is a beautiful wife.  She listens to my crazy thoughts, bears with my grief, celebrates with me in my victories and goes to the low places with me in my disappointments.  I have to tell you, it is not easy being the wife of a Pastor…especially this one.

So today we honor Leslie, this special woman who’s heart has been entrusted to us but ultimately belongs to Christ the King.  Love you – Josh, Benjamin, Liza and Grace!

Here’s a little video I put together for Leslie last year.  Check it out…

Mother’s Day 2008 from Josh Agerton on Vimeo.

1. 26.2 miles is a loooooong way to run.
2. My wife has got some serious guts.

I’m just so proud of Leslie and it was an amazing to watch her prepare over these last 6 months and then accomplish her goal. She ran strong until her IT band began to give her knee problems at around mile 21.  She had to walk/run the final 5 miles and take a break at mile 24 because the pain was making her so nauseous.  But somehow she pulled herself together and persevered to the end, finishing strong.  Her final time was 4 hours, 46 minutes, 06 seconds.

Did I mention how proud I am of her? An amazing daughter of the King, incredible wife, mother of 3, daughter, sister, and now a MARATHON RUNNER.  Leslie, you are a Champion!

Leslie will be running along side her training partner/coach/friend, Beth Kisor.  Together they have run 640 miles since last September preparing for this one day.  Talk about a long obedience in the same direction…these two have been hard at it.  Persevering through aches, pains, pouring rain, crazy wind, mean dogs, and non-yielding cars.  Just surviving the training and showing up for the race is the biggest part of it all.

I’ll be tweittering through the whole deal so you all can track her progress with me.  Please do pray for her and for our little ones while we are away.

Officer: Good Evening Sir, License and proof of insurance please?
I dig it out and give it to him.
Officer: Do you know why I pulled you over?
J: To be perfectly honest, I have no idea why you pulled me over.
Officer: Well you veered over the middle line 3 times over the last mile.
J: Really? I didn’t even realize it.
Officer: Sir where are you coming from?
J: Lexington.
Officer: I mean where have you been this evening?
J: I’m just coming from Barnes & Noble…Oh, I mean Joseph Beth (Leslie helped with correction.)
Officer: Sir have you had any alcohol to drink tonight?
OK, here’s where things go south. Those of you who know me well know that I have a little problem. When people ask me a question of accusation or bring up a serious topic I sometimes take on an uncontrollable grin, making me look like I’m guilty when I’m totally not. And that is what happened here. I began to laugh and grin…just because I thought it was hilarious what was happening. But the problem was that this officer didn’t know me and he didn’t seem to think this was funny.
J: Sir, I can assure you I have not had any alcohol to drink tonight (trying to hold back grin at this point but not working very well).
Officer: long pause…”Wait here in your car while I go and check your record”
We wait in expectation…half nervous, half laughing at the situation until he returns.
Officer: So have you had any alcohol to drink tonight?
J: Officer, I had 2 glasses of water and then a cup of coffee. That’s it.
Officer: Are you on any medications?
J: No but I took some tylenol this morning.
Officer: So are you sure you have not had any alcohol?
Ok, enough…it was time to bring out the big guns…didn’t want to do it but I felt it I had no choice but to play the seminary card.
J: Sir, I’m live in Wilmore and attend the Seminary there…I have not had anything to drink in over 3 years.
Didn’t work.
Officer: So you would not mind stepping out of the vehicle and taking a test with me would you.
J: No Sir.
Officer: Step out of the vehicle and come with me.

I then get out and walk back to the front of his car. Mind you we are on the side of Nicholasville Road in front of Lowes with traffic wizzing by. He then begins what I call the “tricky finger test”. I have to stand there with my feet together and head perfectly still while he moves his finger from right to left in front of me…with his flashlight shining in my eyes. I HAVE NEVER STARRED AT A FINGER SO HARD IN ALL OF MY LIFE! Plus it was about 19 degrees out with light freezing rain. This went on for about 5 minutes. Then he switched things up on me and started moving his finger up and down. My head was like a statue but my eyes were glued on that finger. I started to think he was setting me up or something. Finally he said “OK, I’m going to turn you loose. You could not have done that if you had been drinking”. I then explained to him that the truck I was driving was new to me and not as tight as the Honda Accord I was used to…so maybe that is why I was a little swirvy. He didn’t seem real interested and just told me to be careful. A close one…no ticket or anything. Will never forget this date.

So yes, I survived Hebrew and intense interrogation in the freezing rain. I am blessed!