I moved home in the beginning of February 2008 from Eugene. To describe myself as broken would be an understatement. I was suffering through a terrible depression, regret, denial, anxiety, and truly not a functioning human being. Faces and friends I said goodbye to there and the family I came home to probably have more vivid memories than I do of that time, as my brain has blissfully blocked out some of the worst days. Having lost all direction in life and struggling to recover from the sting of the failure that I felt, I got a job. 

 

And there you were. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two weeks in, hosting at Red Robin I met you. That night, I successfully MySpace stalked you, you came over to my parents house. We watched Inside Man, we laughed, and I told you about my depression…and still you signed on. You kissed me, asked me to be your girlfriend, and that was that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was yours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s been a decade since that day and to say that we have come far is an understatement beyond all understatements. You suffered with me as I struggled to save myself and you stood by and helped in ways that only you could have. You signed on for hard days without a blink and you have never faltered in that promise. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaron, the life we built together is above and beyond my wildest dreams. We have had  hard seasons and we have had joyful seasons, but the constant that remains is that your love never fails. I am better because I know you, I am blessed because I’m loved by you, and I am honored to be your wife. I praise the Lord for you. I have strength in hard seasons because I have seen the Lord lead us through them to better days, just like He lead me to you through my darkest night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s to the first of many decades, my love.