14 Years Ago Today

Fourteen years ago today I married my best friend. To say we’ve been through a lot since then would be an understatement.I remember silly details about that day. I remember being as happy as I’ve ever been and being a little loopy with happiness during the pictures. I remember changing in the bathroom of the church I grew up in into my honeymoon clothes. I remember having my breath taken away when I saw her in that dress. I remember the song her Dad “sung”. I remember the song I wrote and standing upstairs at the church teaching it to the pianist while trying to get my tie on right. I remember crying when she read her vows and just trying to make it through mine. I remember taking pictures of our hotel room because it was the biggest one I’d ever seen.

She was 19 when we got married. I was 21. Since that glorious day we’ve fallen out of puppy, pretty love and have settled into what I’ve come to know real love is. Love that is gritty and raw. Love that tells the truth even when a lie would be easier to manage. Love that refuses to give up on the other person even when they (meaning me) deserve it. Love that can lose its white-hot intensity at times but never loses its fire. Love that wakes up in the morning and chooses to love and be loved. Love that clings to each other when the rest of the world falls apart. Love that never fails.

We’ve got our bad days just like anyone and sometimes love has been hard work. But God has used Misty in my life to show me what it means to be loved. He’s used her to teach me things I wouldn’t have learned without her. He gave me the gift of my children through her and she has been my “Jesus with skin on” more times than I can count.

We’ve grown up together and now I’m looking forward to growing old together. If you’re reading this babe (and I’m sure you are) thanks for being my confidant, love and joy. You’re still the joy of my heart and your smile still makes my day. You’re still my “precious, perfect gift”; my angel.