10 Years…

To My Dearest Husband on Our Anniversary:

On this day, a decade ago, we said “I do”. 10 years of marriage. That’s always sounded like such a crazy-big number. At the beginning it seemed like it would be a lifetime away – like we would be very grown up when we got there. Now that we’re here, in some ways yes, there has been a completely altering lifetime lived, but in other ways it seems to have gone by so, so fast. Whichever it is, being very grown up feels much younger than I expected. ;)

We’ve been through an incredible lot. Some would say more hard times than are fair, while others would look at the good times and be considerably jealous. But good and bad: it all shaped us into who we are and I truly believe we’re better for it. I am better for having gone through it all with you. Your consistently positive-in-all-situations outlook both amazes me and gives me something to aspire to every day. And what’s more, doing all of this side by side has connected us in a way that I think few couples get to experience. I feel really fortunate to get to share that with you.

Hardships and successes, joys and pain, adventures and everyday humdrum: all of it has come together to make you into a man that I love more deeply and respect more immensely than I ever would have thought possible on our wedding day. I understand more than ever what it means when someone says, “he is my rock” because you are mine.

If there’s one thing I want to take away from the past 10 years, it’s that not every year is full of wonderful, but sticking with it in the not-so-great years is how you get to best ones yet. Also, not a year has passed where I’ve ever doubted that you love me and that has made all the difference. Thank you for that.

I’m completely smitten with this simple, laid-back life we’ve built and our beautiful growing family. It may have taken me a few years to realize it, but you were always the man I was hoping for and you exceed my greatest hopes more and more with every passing year. I’m so glad you’re mine.

We’ve been friends for 16 years, a pair for 12, and husband and wife for 10 now. I hope we get to be all three for many more decades to come. I love you with all of me. Happy Anniversary!

Love,

Mel