Four Years

July 1, 2006.  A day that changed both of our lives.  Forever.  For the better.

I can't believe everything that we have gone through in the mere four years that we have been together as husband and wife.

Four years ago I didn't think I could love you more.  Oh, how wrong I was.

Four years ago I had a picture in my head about what happily ever after was.  I now know that happily ever after is for the novels and movies.

Happy is a fleeting emotion.  Dedication is not.  Commitment is not.

Don't get me wrong, we've had a blast.  I love the inside jokes we have together.  I chest hair you.  I love that we both love road trips.  I love discovering new places with you, and only you.  I love turning off on country roads with you.  Remember Nebraska?  And I love traveling those familiar roads with you listening to Josh Turner's "Would You Go With Me".

I love that you know when I'm cranky and need time to myself.  I love that I know you hardly ever need time alone and I can always count on you for shoulder time. I love that you don't hold grudges.  May I learn from you how not to. 

Thank you for loving me and all my awful quirks.  Thank you for loving me with morning breath, smeared makeup, and rat's nest hair.

I wish I could say that it has all been wonderful and blissful.  Or maybe I don't.  Maybe it's the tough times that you push through together that makes your vows even more powerful and resilient.  No, resilient isn't the correct word. Resilient means returning to the original form or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched.  No, we have not returned to where we were four years ago. Yes, we have been bent. We have most definitely been stretched.  And we've come out on the other side of the fire.  

Refined.  


Yes, refined is a more fitting word.  It is taking out the impurities to makes something perfect.  No, we are not perfect.  But together on this journey, we are constantly being refined by the One who brought us together.  


So here's to the four years we have under our belt.  And the countless ones before us.  May we remember what got us here. The good. The bad. And the ugly.  May we continue to explore and experience more love than we though possible. And may we continue to be refined. Together. For life.

{ and they lived... ever after }