This man and I. My thoughts are still jumbled when I think of him. My heart still beats very fast when he is near. I love greeting him in the morning and kissing him at night.
How is it possible that he chose me? We have created an amazing life together. One full of hardship but also joy and love.
25 years (next month)! 25 years and 20 children. We have since added 2 more children and 1 grandson.
I love to look at our wedding photo. The young couple smile back at me on their wedding day. Their hands clasped having no idea what their future will hold. They had plans and big dreams. You know what? Only a few of those became a reality over the years. What is really cool is new dreams and aspirations replaced the old ones. The new dreams reflect a different focus our life has taken. Family. Family is the only thing that truly matters in this world. Our new dreams also reflect a maturity that wasn’t present on our wedding day.
This new picture. The one we took yesterday at the pumpkin patch. When I look at this older couple smiling back at me, I reflect on a few things I see. I see some gray hair and some fine lines appearing. I see added weight too. I also see love , joy and maturity. I still love this man. Differently than I did 25 years ago. The love is evolving and becoming so much more.
I see a couple who are still looking like they are ready to face this world together. A couple that still has many hopes and dreams. A couple who strives to be the best people they can be every. single. day.
I see a couple who has endured disappointment. They have experienced heartache. On occasion they struggle with finances. They struggle to hold it together. They struggle to find what is truly important each day.
I see a couple. A couple much like everyone else. One who has focused their lives on strengthening home and family.
I guess what I am trying to say is, “I love this man!” I love the life he has chosen to live with me. Do we have struggles? Yes. Do we argue? On occasion. Do we disagree? Yep.
One of the coolest things about our relationship is we have chosen each other. We have chosen to preserve our relationship at all cost. We have chosen to stand united in the face of hardships and trials. We seek each other’s counsel on all things important and insignificant. We support, encourage and inspire each other.
I am that girl from 25 years ago that still can’t believe he chose me.
To borrow one of my favorite inspirational thoughts I quote The Family: A Proclamation to the World. “We believe that successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities.”
Our love and our family will continued to be tried and tested. However, when we build our relationship upon the principles stated above we can’t help but come through the hardships together and stronger than ever.
I am grateful I had the opportunity to say, “I do” to this man. I am glad to say I would say I do over and over again.
Thank you John. You made me the luckiest girl ever. I thought I loved you “Then”.
xoxoxo for eternity.
Me
I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you for eternity…actually I do. Divine destiny. I am glad to be living the plan with you my dear, I love you eternally!