A Decade

I remember that morning like it was yesterday. You’d think I would have slept in, given the time that Father of the Bride had ended and the giggling that I shared with the sisters the night before.  But ten years ago, I woke bright-eyed and bushy tailed.  I had butterflies in my stomach, the champagne-like bubbles escaping through my giggles, and a semi-permanent grin on my face.

It was my wedding day. And at the end of it, I was going to be married to my best friend.

Fast-forward 10 years and we’re going to wake up to a much different scenario.  Jon will head out the door sometime between 5:45 and 6:15.  I’m sure he’ll place a haphazard kiss across my temple, but I won’t know for sure since I’m usually fast asleep after a late night of designing.

I won’t wake to a brunch made by Mom, complete with mimosas.  My sisters and dearest friends won’t be walking in and out of our house as we prepare to leave for the salon.  There won’t be makeup artists or hair stylists, no photographers or giggled secrets between bridesmaids.

Instead, I’ll be the one doing the serving.  Wiping sleepy eyes and dirty faces.  I’ll try to decipher what each Little wants for breakfast through the crying and shouting and arguing over who gets the orange bowl.  I’ll find clothes and shoes, and play stylist while I try to wrangle hair into some semblance of order. 

But two things will still be the same as the day of ten years ago.

I will have a semi-permanent grin on my face.  And at the end of it, I’ll still be married to my best friend.

Ten years.  I can’t begin to explain how momentous this day feels to us.  For the past two weeks, we’ve shared looks of awe and wonderment as the significance of this milestone settled into our marrow.  This one is important, we realized.  We’ve even exchanged high-fives because while we might not have done these past ten years correctly, we know we’ve done something right to be this happy, this close, this in love after ten years of marriage.

Its been a wild ride.  Its been…

2 years of living with roommates, including best friends and family 3 dogs too many to count dog chases 1 parents divorce 4 pregnancies, 4 births, 4 Littles 5 different places we called home 14 months of living in my parents basement death of 2 grandparents fights and crying and making up 1 thrown phone 3 vehicles 2 run over Stop signs (don’t ask) numerous runs to the ER and Urgent Care financial blunders (word of advice, don’t let 2 spenders marry) numerous job/career changes uncontrollable laughter love forgiveness innumerable camping and fishing trips late nights, steam showers, croupy coughs harsh words and ugly threats tender, sweet nothings the list goes on… and on… and on.

Ten years.  It’s a milestone that we are cherishing and most definitely, celebrating.

Jonathan David, you are my best friend. The love of my life.  The man who knows me so completely, so intimately, that you anticipate my moods, my actions, my thoughts before I do.  Everything that I am is because of your love, for  I am loved better than I ever thought possible.  Thank you for loving me where I’m at, for loving me in spite of my flaws and my weaknesses!  Thank you for being eactly what I need in the moment.

Neither of us anticipated that each year would get better than the last, but it has been just that.  I can only imagine what the next ten years will hold.  As long as there are random slow dances in the kitchen, I’m good to go.  Thank you for meeting me at the end of the aisle ten years ago, for making me your wife.  This life we’ve built?  It’s a beautiful thing.  Happy anniversary, my love!