To Steve: 10 years

Happy Anniversary! We have been married 10 years today! 10!

What can I say about the last 10 years? They were hard? First and foremost they were difficult. I feel like I'm still trying to catch my breath. But that put aside, I would not trade them. They were good to us. They were something to be proud of. Our household is overflowing with blessings! 3 kids. More than can fit comfortably on my lap. More than an armful. Filling up a van-ful. Laughter and tears and grocery bills. 

Seeing us now and comparing to where we came from. KNOWING that we did this? With God's help, we made it. We did what we set out to do when we decided to become a real family. This is what we chose. 

When I think of the next ten years, I'll admit, I'm a little nervous. Did you know that by then, Olivia will be in college and Sophie in her senior year? Eli will be an awkward 12 year old boy, ruling the house his sisters used to rule. Thinking himself a big deal when he visits them at college. Trying to hide his excitement when they come home to see him play football at homecoming.

Did you know how fast it would go? Did you know how fast 10 years would go? How fast it will go again? How different a world our eyes will see in ten more years?

What will we know then that we don't right now? I wonder what I would want to tell us about these upcoming times, these next ten years. I can only guess. I suppose I'd want to make sure we didn't forget. That we made it count. That we held on to each moment and saw it for what it was.That we continued to choose to make the most of each day. That we chose to camp and fish and bike ride and hike. That we chose to do the things our kids would remember happily.

Steve, you are a good man. You're a great father. You are the man I have chosen to love. You are the one I will keep working hard with to build the life we have dreamed of for us and for our kids. And for the next ten years? I suppose we're up to the challenge. I suppose that's what marriage is. A challenge to see if you can navigate the obstacles that life throws your way, keeping hands held tight, sticking together. We've got these babies for just a short time, Steve. And after that, I suppose there will be a lot of motorcycle riding, you and me. 

And I bet we'll have the money for that snowmobile. 

;) 

Love, 

Mel (Your OLD lady, of 10 years today.) I love ya, baby.