Random Musings on 10 years

We had an epic long first date.

Fall festival. Dinner.  A movie. Sitting in the swing in front of Cobb dorm for hours.

Your IM screen name was JohnU79.  

But you were a gentleman and didn't ask me out over IM.  

You opted for email. 

I still said yes.

You remember the first time we met differently than how I remember it.  

And that's okay.  I like your version better anyway, so we'll go with that one. 

We were friends first. 

You "tested" me by having me watch Dumb and Dumber to see if I thought it was funny.  

I didn't know it was a test at the time, but now that I do...

Well played, my friend.

I wouldn't have wanted to date me either if I had failed.

We are so similar. 

We love sports, summer, being outdoors.

We agree that McDonald's has the best Coke, that you are the world's best popcorn popper, and that Finn will likely be our most argumentative child.

Remember that time we took those personality tests, and we both resulted heavy in the "lion" category?

There was an asterisk that noted how rare it is to find a married couple that consists of two lion personalities. 

We showed them.

Bazinga. 

We are so different.

I can go shopping for hours and return empty handed, yet perfectly satisfied. 

You see this as a waste of time.

You can go fishing for hours and return empty handed, yet perfectly satisfied.

I see this as ridiculous.

But we both appreciate the need in each other to get out of the house and office to do our own thing once in a while. 

And I love that.  

I think singing loudly and off tune in public is hilarious.

You think it's embarrassing.

You're tall. 

I'm not.

When we went to get our first dog, there were several left in the litter to choose from. 

You wanted the biggest, most rambunctious male of the bunch.

I was partial to the runt who continued to follow us and cry.

You let me choose the runt.

Thank you.

Remember that time, a little after our first year anniversary, when I was taking birth control pills, and they didn't work, and I got pregnant?  

You handled that like a champ. 

Our "Five Year Plan" dwindled before our eyes as quickly as that little pink plus sign appeared.

But you sat me down, and said, "Babe! This is FANTASTIC!"

I'm pretty sure neither of us felt that way at the time.

But there's this thing about you, that when you say things, I believe it hook, line and sinker.

And you were right. 

It was fantastic. It was Jack!  Your mini me.

Sometimes we argue.  

And you are the worst to argue with. 

You're logical. You choose your words wisely. You don't raise your voice. You apologize.

Ugh...

Seriously...10 years and no dramatic door slamming or "I have to take a drive" comments?  

I can count on two fingers the times that I have gone ape on you.  

And I was pregnant both times.

So that kind of means it was half your fault, right?

I enjoy doing life with you. 

You're funny. And fun.  And considerate. 

You didn't mind when I left on a girl's trip a few weeks ago and didn't stock the fridge beforehand.  

Thank you for being easy.

And for grocery shopping while I was gone.

Sometimes people will comment about you being "serious". 

But they haven't seen you lead the nightly Jedi training sessions in our living room. 

Or last night's full on sprint that ended in a forward roll as Finn was giving you Ninja lessons.

Or the fake cockroach you keep leaving in my path.

We have been immeasurably blessed these ten years. 

Blessed in ways that we don't deserve.

We even voiced this to one another the other night as we watched our boys in a rare moment of unity.

God's grace is so evident in our lives.

His grace has been evident in our blessings and hardships.

Pa and Tim's sicknesses and deaths. 

You have held me many times as I've cried wishing I could be close to family.  You knew words were not enough, but you were there.

The night Charlie was born was probably the worst of your life.  

I remember leaving the hospital nursery just after our baby had stopped breathing. 

I could tell in your eyes that you were afraid he would die.  

We held hands and begged that God would protect Charlie.

Watching you hold our babies has been so sweet, but the first time you held Charlie boy might take the cake.

Leaving your parents' house the night before your Dad's official diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. 

I saw through your tears that you were heartbroken but still willing to accept the challenges that could be ahead.

Running the business on your own.  Taking care of your mom.  

You were broken, but still so strong. 

Because the man I love, trusts a faithful God. 

Thank you for continuing to compliment me on my appearance. 

Three pregnancies, three post pregnancies, three fad diets.

All of these can do a number on a girl.

But you still plug along with your "You look great, babe!" comments.

Don't stop. 

I respect you for so many reasons. 

You work so hard for our family, and you are good at what you do. 

You hear both sides of the story before making a judgement call.

Unless I'm involved, then you always choose me.

You totally called that old yankee lady out at the post office for beeping her horn at you for blocking the space that she wanted, even though there were five open spaces closer to the building.  

 You got the point across in a nice, Southern gentlemanly way.  

Sometimes when you get a wild hair and do something spectacularly zany, I take credit and give myself an imaginary pat on the back for bringing out that side of you.

The other day I was heading back over the bridge from the island and caught myself looking into the marsh for tailing redfish.  

What?!?

You've rubbed off on me, too, I guess.

Whenever we go to a couple's shower (which I know you LOVE) and we're asked to fill out one of those little cards with words of marital wisdom, we always write down what Gammy said to us at our rehearsal dinner: 

Marriage is not 50/50.

It's 100/100.

We don't always get it right, but we sure do try.

Thank you in advance for the nice dinner you're taking me to tonight. 

And when the server comes and asks if we saved room for dessert, please lie and say yes.

Because TEN is something to celebrate!

John boy, I love you. I admire you. I respect you. 

And I think you're hot.