A Letter To My Husband

UPDATE: We have now been married for 19 years

This Saturday marks my 17 year wedding anniversary.

It seems so strange to say that out loud.  Time does seem to fly doesn’t it?

Saying I’ve been married for 17 years makes me feel 2 things;

1.    Very old!

2.   Very proud!

If you have read my story then you know that I met my husband when we were 11 years old.   We became a couple when we were 14 and we have been a couple ever since.

We have now been together for 26 years!

In honor of this special day I would like to take a moment to write a letter to my husband.  I hope you will bare with me as I feel the need to dedicate this post to him.

Dear Joel,

Before I even write a word, I am choked up with emotion.  17 years!  How can it be possible?

From the moment I met you, back when we were in middle school, I knew, even then, that there was something very special about you.   I knew then, that I wanted to spend every minute with you.  You stole my heart the moment we were introduced.  

Though I couldn’t have even imagined it back then, that simple handshake changed the course of my life forever.

How grateful I am that it did.

You are my shining star. For our whole lives I have sat in awe of your brilliance. You have a light about you that draws everything to you, including me.

You have taught me so many things.  To work hard, to never settle, to love passionately, to follow my dreams and to believe in myself (to name a few).

It is remarkable to realize that we have been best friends since the 7th grade.

Maybe that is what makes us work.  Our friendship.

From the outside we look like a couple who has it all figured out, but you and I know that we don’t.  That we still have much to learn.

But, I think what sets us apart is our willingness to do just that . . . learn.  Learn from each other.  Learn from life.

You have always held me high on a pedestal filling my soul with love and belief.  But, I hope you know that it is you who are the hero.  You who are the gift.

You are an amazing husband and a devoted father.  You are full of passion, kindness and forgiveness.  You are more driven than anyone I’ve ever met and you are an unbelievable provider.

Every little girl dreams of Happily Ever After.   I was no different.

And though Happy Every After doesn’t look like it does in the movies, it does exist.  It exists in the messy ups and downs and highs and lows of our marriage.   It is real.  It is true.  It is our honest version of the fairy tale.

I just want to tell you thank you. Thank you for being my partner on this ride of love, life and parenthood.   I couldn’t have chose a better person to share my journey with.

Most of all, thank you for being my best friend for 30 years.

BFF 🙂

Happy Anniversary, Baby!

With all the love my heart can hold,

Tam

P.S.  I can’t wait to breathe in the salty air, eat amazing cookies and cuddle as we celebrate 17 years!