Nine years.
108 months.
3,285 days.
78,840 hours.
4,700,430 minutes.
As of this minute, that's how long you've been my wife.
108 months.
3,285 days.
78,840 hours.
4,700,430 minutes.
As of this minute, that's how long you've been my wife.
In some ways it feels just like yesterday.
In other ways it seems like a lifetime; because it is hard to imagine life without you.
Almost a third of our lives has been spent together as man and wife.
I struggled to figure out how to even talk about what you mean to me. Some things just can't be expressed in words in a way that will ever satisfy.
The best idea I could come up with was a little story of us.
Sure, others can read this and enjoy the story, but this is for you.
I struggled to figure out how to even talk about what you mean to me. Some things just can't be expressed in words in a way that will ever satisfy.
The best idea I could come up with was a little story of us.
Sure, others can read this and enjoy the story, but this is for you.
We've known each other for more than 13 years.
I still remember our verbal jousting sessions in EN102 and how much fun it was to meet someone who could give a snappy comeback to my silly comments. Even then, while barely knowing you, I admired your mind and your ability to communicate. And to be honest, the fact that you could find a quirky person like me fun to be around was unexpected.
The fact that you continued to like me and that our relationship developed still surprises me at times. The collection of ways in which I managed to complicate things (like my inability to ask you out properly) makes me cringe to this day. Yet, you still were willing to be with me.
Then came Burger King.
One of the reasons that I think so fondly of that job was because of the time that I got to work with you while there. Sure, it wasn't easy having a friend as an employee, and I did give you some of the worst jobs to do in order to show that I wasn't playing favorites; but we also had time to talk like we hadn't before. Not only were we able to learn a whole lot more about each other, but also about our personal faiths.
I learned to admire you even more here, because I got to see the way your mind works and how seriously you take matters of faith. Where others don't care at all, or are more willing to "agree to disagree" on things that they consider difficult or uninteresting; you were willing to look and consider ideas that you'd never heard before from someone who was still learning how to convey those ideas coherently. I have no shame in saying that my knowledge of God and His word increased dramatically in that time because you forced me to defend my beliefs.
On the day we were married I said that you had gotten to see me at my worst while working there. I know a whole lot better now, but still am thankful for us having such a chance to see each other outside of the confines of dating and the way that people portray themselves better in that situation.
Somehow, in the midst of our discussions on religion, our busy class schedules, both of us working (separate jobs by that point), and just life in general; a romance formed.
I really don't understand what you saw in me then and even less what you see in me now, but it pretty soon became obvious to everyone that it was more than just friendship.
It still is the best birthday present of my life, having you accept my offer to spend our lives together, and I don't see any other present coming close any time soon.
The fact that you continued to like me and that our relationship developed still surprises me at times. The collection of ways in which I managed to complicate things (like my inability to ask you out properly) makes me cringe to this day. Yet, you still were willing to be with me.
Then came Burger King.
One of the reasons that I think so fondly of that job was because of the time that I got to work with you while there. Sure, it wasn't easy having a friend as an employee, and I did give you some of the worst jobs to do in order to show that I wasn't playing favorites; but we also had time to talk like we hadn't before. Not only were we able to learn a whole lot more about each other, but also about our personal faiths.
I learned to admire you even more here, because I got to see the way your mind works and how seriously you take matters of faith. Where others don't care at all, or are more willing to "agree to disagree" on things that they consider difficult or uninteresting; you were willing to look and consider ideas that you'd never heard before from someone who was still learning how to convey those ideas coherently. I have no shame in saying that my knowledge of God and His word increased dramatically in that time because you forced me to defend my beliefs.
On the day we were married I said that you had gotten to see me at my worst while working there. I know a whole lot better now, but still am thankful for us having such a chance to see each other outside of the confines of dating and the way that people portray themselves better in that situation.
Somehow, in the midst of our discussions on religion, our busy class schedules, both of us working (separate jobs by that point), and just life in general; a romance formed.
I really don't understand what you saw in me then and even less what you see in me now, but it pretty soon became obvious to everyone that it was more than just friendship.
While some people may consider the last year of college to be the hardest; I barely remember the last semester of it, since I was just waiting for the day that I could marry you.
And then the months after flew by as we approached the day where you would be my bride.
We took oaths together before God, family, and friends; oaths that bind us in this life.
But to be honest, it's not just about the oaths. I love you. I want to be with you. I want to be the one that you can't live without and want to spend your life with.
No, it hasn't been easy. We'll both admit to being sinners and having our issues.
If anything, you've probably found that I'm more quirky than you knew before you married me.
The point is that we have worked through those issues and continued to love one another.
I have loved learning and growing together with you.
The man that I have become, and the man that I want to be, has been contributed to in so many ways because of things that you have helped me understand.
I have no doubt that I am a better man because of you.
It is my prayer that I've made you a better woman.
We've been through a lot together.
Nine years is enough time for various things to happen.
We've been through lost jobs, lost family, and lost friends; but you've been faithful both to God and me. You've been at my side and had my back.
And there are the adventures we've taken together. Whether it be climbing the face of Bald Rock shortly after marrying me to swimming with dolphins, I've loved sharing my life with you.
It has been fascinating to watch you grow into the role of a mother.
I know you didn't initially think that you'd really get it, or that you'd be good at it.
Perhaps that's why God let us wait so long before we were able to have Natalia.
But when His time was right, He made everything work out.
You may not realize it, but you're a great mom, and Natalia has always loved you.
Seeing the two of you and how you both are learning with each other is wonderful.
Sharing a happy family with you is incredible.
Last year was hard.
Our joy and our second pregnancy and then pain at the loss of it was difficult to process in such a short amount of time.
But that's when you really get to see the strength of someone. When we were faced with that loss, even the possibility of losing you, it wasn't something that you crumbled under. You grabbed hold of your faith and relied on the God that we both love for your strength.
And I meant what I said then. You are worth more to me than any number of children, and if we had never had another you would have been more than enough for me.
But God continued to be good.
Getting to have another child with you was an amazing gift.
Experiencing the joy of surprise and learning all over again and the way that it lit you up. Sharing with you the thanks to God for giving us an opportunity that we shouldn't have had.
Having another life entrusted by God to us, that we get to raise and mold together. The wonder of life from the beginning again. I am thankful to share such a time with you.
Seeing you each day and the way that you take care of our girls is marvelous. I know it did scare you, and maybe does still sometimes, but you're a good mom. The way that you have continued to teach, help, and care for both of them encourages me.
My love.
You are the greatest natural gift I have ever been given.
God made you for me, and He did so very well.
Yes, it's been nine long years, but that's hardly enough.
I pray for many more years with you in my arms.
This feeble effort isn't enough to express what you mean to me, but that's what life is for.
You have been my beloved and my friend; and I want to spend my life with you.
