I didn't get you a card, so I wrote you this love letter instead.
Today we celebrate three years of marriage, and I am so proud to be your wife. This has been my favorite year together yet, which feels a little funny to say. After all, this year we have been mostly housebound. None of our normal travels, minimal celebrations, many hobbies paused, not even a lot of social interaction outside of our little family unit within the walls of our little home. But navigating this pandemic with you has truly helped me to see clearly the strength of our partnership.
In this third year, we worked on our communication and took the time to dig deep and understand each other’s perspectives. We made tough decisions together and took big leaps of faith. We laughed and cried and held hands through uncertainty, not editing ourselves for each other, and only growing in our love and respect for each other. We reprioritized our shared life. We shifted our plans and strategies accordingly. We set our values firmly and stood steadfastly by them together, even when faced with opposition. We grew immensely as individuals, as a couple, and as parents. We did most of this in sweatpants.
You took the lead every time I had a weak moment. You supported me adopting a nine o’clock bedtime when life became too emotionally exhausting for me to handle. This year you have made us stronger as a family and you have made us all better as people in the process.
I want to tell you a story that I have never shared with you. We were at a wedding together early on in our relationship, and things were not going very well between us at the time. As was my tendency in those days, I was considering ending things once the weekend was over, and after a few glasses of wine, I shared this sentiment with a new friend that we had both just met. This person, who I love and respect to this day, had the good sense to encourage me to reconsider.
A paraphrase of the words spoken to me were: “I know I don’t know either of you that well, but I feel compelled to tell you that I think you belong together. You balance each other in a way I have never seen before, and everyone around you notices. Matt – he has the warmest heart, and he obviously adores you. Don’t run away from that, it’s not easy to find.”
I am so thankful for the jolt of reality that hit me in that moment, for the boldness of this friend to advocate for us when I would not. I am so thankful that I was able to pull myself out of the drama I was constructing around myself to see things more clearly. I am so thankful for our balance. And to this day, I am most thankful for your warm heart.
In this year of marriage, you have stepped up in every sense. I think back to a year ago and what our relationship looked like, and I feel so grateful for all of the challenges we have faced together, and those yet to come. The man you are today is everything I hoped for in a husband. You exceed my expectations in every category. I am excited to see what this next year has in store for you and for us. I am blessed to have a front row seat to your greatness.
Thank you for choosing me every day, on the good days and on the bad days. Thank you for your patience and unconditional love. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to what is best for us. And thank you most of all, for being you, and for sharing life with me. You make it really, really good.
All my love.
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