For my husband on our 10th anniversary

Tomorrow....on July 4th..... my husband and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage....and almost 14 years since we met.  While I truly feel that the day we met is the day our lives changed.....him putting up with me for 10 years legally warrants a HUGE recognition.

We got married on the 4th of July because the places we booked offered a discount, and on a Sunday we could have a Catholic ceremony without a full mass.  We joked...and still do....that we would always have our anniversary off.....someone would be having a party.....and there would always be fireworks.

After we booked the date, we realized that the colors I'd chosen were red....white...and.....blue.  Not on purpose.  My dress was white with red roses embroidered on it.....and the lot of bridesmaid dresses I'd gotten were navy blue.

For me, our wedding was magical.  The day was hot, no family members killed each other, we could see the fireworks from the reception, and the "worst" thing that happened was that we were locked out of both of our cars and had to borrow clothing and toothbrushes....and had no clothing on our wedding night or the morning after.

The past 10 years have been nothing like I expected.....nothing I imagined.....and exceeded anything that ever crossed my mind.  There have been ups and downs, but I wouldn't change a moment.

So, for my sweet, wonderful, amazing husband.......

Ten Things from Ten Years

1.  Our story is always being written and re-written. Who we are together and for each other changes from one day to the next…..from one week to another….and from year to year and beyond. Sometimes we even change from one minute to the next.
2. You know when to let me be “right”….and how to tell me when I’m wrong.
3.  In addition to being the great stepdad I thought you would be….you are a great father.
4.  At the end of the day, our differences make us stronger together than our similarities. Together we are stronger than the sum of our parts.
5. We should never work on the same part of the same project together at the same time. We make a great team in the end, but the bits in the middle are sometimes worked out better separately
6. While we have some major philosophical differences, we agree on the most important…and they are what binds us together.
7.  A sense of humor is key…..not only for helping to get over the rough parts, but to help us feel “together.” You are the second funniest person I know (me being the first…..as long as I’m laughing, it’s all good).
8.  I am married to my best friend….and my other best friend approves.
9.  You calm me and center me in a way that I never was…and never could be….without you.
10. 10 years of marriage….and almost 14 years together…..we still make other people nauseated. I am proud of that fact.

I I love you.  I love our life.  I love our family.