For Matt: fifteen years

I was fifteen years old when we met.  I had no idea that when I went out with my friends to Bandarama at your high school that night, I would meet the boy who would eventually become my husband, my true partner in life, the person who would come to know me better than anyone and love all of me for who I am.  I was still a kid, really, with so many things to experience and discover and learn in life;  I still had so much growing to do, and so did you.  I look at you and at us today and am thankful beyond words that we chose to do our growing together.

On this day fifteen years ago, we stood together before our families and friends, full of love and happiness and hope and dreams, and we promised to be there for one another through whatever life would bring us.  In the years since that beautiful day, life has brought us many triumphs and challenges, opportunities and setbacks, laughter and tears, and two amazing sons.  Through it all, I have never doubted that we've remained true to those promises we made; we have always supported one another, had fun being with each other, and shown each other what loving someone really means.  People have often commented over the years how well you and I seem to make our way through life as a couple;  it is because we're in this together in the truest sense of the word.  I couldn't have chosen a better person to walk hand in hand with through the years.

Matt, you are such a kind, loyal, and gentle soul.  You are patient and calm when I am not;  you have  a way of making me feel that everything will be alright when my overactive imagination wants desperately to convince me otherwise.  You make the boys and I feel that we're the most important people in your world.  While it would be so easy in your chosen career to wrap yourself up with work, you've made our family a priority, and you show us in so many caring ways that you love us as much as we love you.  I watch you playing ball with the boys, teaching them things they're interested in, sharing jokes and laughs with them, and it makes my heart so happy to know that they have such a wonderful role model to guide them in life.  There is a joy and a comfort in knowing every day that no matter what happens, you are always there to share it with me.

It could be very easy, after so many years as a couple, for us to simply take each other for granted, but today I want you to know that I am still so thankful each and every day for who you are and what we have together.  Fifteen years after we said "I do", I am still so full of love for you, and happiness, and hope and dreams for all that is yet to come.  Happy Anniversary, Matt.  xoxo