Once upon a time a boy met a girl (in a bar of all places). The girl was not impressed. Something about the fact that the first words the guy said to the girl were, “… is that you real name?” Fast forward several months, a series of misunderstandings and misinformation provided by friends and the girl and guy finally carry on a conversation and set up a date. Girl tells guy, “I’m not looking for a relationship.” Boy tells girl, “Good, neither am I.” Fast forward 9-months and the girl and guy are saying “I Do.”
Ten years later and I think God every day that I am that girl and that the boy is my husband, only we’re not a boy and girl anymore. It has been an amazing, wonderful, sometimes rocky, love filled ten years since we said “I do.” When I look back at those years, I am both amazed and melancholy. They have been filled with the birth of our children, but also loss of both family and friends; separations due to deployments and glorious reunions; the excitement of journeys to new places, along with the sadness of missing our family and friends at home. Most of all, those years have been filled with love…love of family, our children, each other and God.
In a sermon once, Dr. Hal Brady told us that the best thing a man can do for his children is love their mother and vice-versa. I am so blessed that our children get to grow up seeing two parents that love each other. They will see our imperfections I am sure, but I just hope that we show them every day, how to love and treat each other. I never doubt that Lila will grow up knowing how a man should treat a woman, because Cory shows her in both the way he treats me and her…every single day. Collis will know how a man should treat a woman…he has the best example set for him by his Daddy. For that, I am immensely grateful. I think that as parents, one of the greatest things I can hope for is that our love for each other can be an example for our children.
My dearest husband, I love you and happy 10th Anniversary. You are my best friend, my rock, the person I want to see first thing every morning, the one I want to kiss good night and so much more. I am so blessed that once upon a time, you met a girl who had some growing up to do and were willing to stick it out while she did. I see the sacrifices you make all the time to ensure we are taken care of and I want you to know how much I appreciate you. I could say that you are the husband I always dreamed of, but that wouldn’t be true, because you are so much more than anything my imagination every conjured up. I love you and look forward to the next ten years and the rest of our lives together. Happy Anniversary!
