Happy Anniversary to Us!

I have to be honest. Sometimes it's really hard to decide what to put in my blog posts - knowing (and especially not knowing!) who all reads it. Sometimes, I think it's just TMI, sometimes, I worry about offending, and often I worry that it will be perceived that I'm using this blog just to brag. I think that's my biggest worry - as I would never want people to think that. I really try my hardest to use this blog to be very honest about our lives - the goods and the bads - so that when this blog is transformed each year into our keepsake books, it becomes somewhat of a journal of our lives along with all of the pictures included.

So, I have hesitated in my mind whether or not to include parts of John's surprise anniversary letter to me this morning in this blog post. But, last night, I attended the Trinity House's meeting and listened to Lisa Q. share her "Quig's List to Being Single", and then the talk turned into a bit of a panel about dating with all sorts of questions about waiting, settling, and standards vs. expectations. In light of all that - and in hopes that each of those beautiful girls will wait for the ABSOLUTE BEST.....I decided to go ahead and include John's words. I want them to know, if they happen to read this blog - that waiting for the right man is SO WORTH IT.

I'm sharing just some of the portions of John's letter - it was left for me this morning, a full page typed. =)

"I wanted to take the time as I was awake at O'Dark:30 this morning and say how much I love you.

When I went to bed last night, I was thinking of all the things you do for me, help me, remind me, serve me, make for me, love me -- oh, I already said that :) teach and guide our kids, love on them, laugh with all of us, make our house a home, plan wonderful vacations -- like Disneyworld in just THREE DAYS, seeking the Lord together, live life dreaming together, loving on college students together, looking over at you (at the retreat) and seeing 5-6 girls wrapped around you at the lunch table, their eyes wide open and ears attentive to every word you have to say -- me smile -- "that's my honey", I say to myself quietly as I admire the one God gave me for my life.

I need you more than ever. You make my life whole, complete lacking nothing because of what Christ does through you. He surely knew what I needed in a wife, confidant, vacation buddy, parenting partner and best friend. He knew the exact person I could cry with, laugh with, do God-sized things with, watch our kids become something great with, minister with and live eternity with -- that is you, my everything.............

I pray that I could be a fraction of a spouse that you are to me. Thank you for choosing me on April 27, 1996. I am forever grateful."

That's only about half of it, but you get the picture. Obviously, the man sees me through rose-colored glasses (and about those girls hanging on every word, it was probably because - once again - I was bordering in TMI stuff....like childbirth stories). But, I think the picture of his love for me - and likewise, my identical feelings towards him is pretty apparent.

And, the fact that all this lovey-dovey stuff is being communicated 14 years into marriage. Wow, pretty awesome. Hang on, you wonderful college girls - the ride with the "right one" can be more incredible than you can imagine!!