I don't know where to begin. These last eleven years with you have been the best of my life. I remember that first Valentine's day when you were 'courting' me. I wondered if you would get me anything. I remember it was a little gift basket so beautifully wrapped. You have always been so thoughtful. Much more so than me. But never doubt my love for you. It is always there.
You have taught me so much over the course of our marriage. Like, placing the knives sharp side down in the dish drainer. Putting the toilet paper on the roll so it rolls over not under. Haha :)
I have no doubt in my mind that God wanted us togevr (together.) I think you should have loved me way back when, when I first loved you.. Only God would know we would be brought back together. I do know God's ways are not our ways. I love the adventure of seeing His plan unfold.
Some of the funniest memories of the last eleven years to me are arguments. I remember one time in particular angrily rolling the ottoman at you at a high rate of speed and hitting you in the shins with it then stomping off to the bedroom, slamming the door and locking it. You coming back there and kicking it in. Funny how the lock has never worked properly since.
I must say it is good to be able to look back and laugh about that now.
That memory is rather comical now. These next few will forever be etched in my mind in a different way...
~The GREATEST memories ~
Tybee Island, June, 11 2000 ~ After leaving church, not telling me where we were going, and driving me all the way to Tybee Island to propose on a pier. Then turning around and driving me home. I remember you asking me to grow old with you.
Gatlinburg Tennessee, June, 23 2000 (12 days later) marrying my best friend in a little chapel. Just you, me, my mother and daddy, Keli and Kaci. (I wouldn't have had it any other way.) Then after the ceremony just us eating at Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Bruster's Ice Cream, June 2004 ~ Sitting outside on the bench eating ice cream. The night we decided to adopt a baby in a foreign land. Our baby. After a couple of years of praying/dreaming about it this night was the night the final decision was made. We started paperwork the next day.
My office July, 28 2005 ~ Receiving a call right before 5pm that a picture of our baby was about to be sent to my email. I remember seeing her face for the first time, not knowing if it was a girl or boy. I remember printing off a dozen or so copies of that picture. That one little picture. I remember calling you and you telling me not to leave that you would be right there. I then remember you took the photo to Tang's Garden to ask if Fu Bing Xue was a girl name or boy name. At Tang's you got 'boy.' You then took it to Golden China and got the answer 'girl.' We wouldn't know if it was a boy or girl until the following Monday.
Jiangxi Province China October 10, 2005 ~ Holding our baby for the very first time. I wish I could have relaxed more so I could have remembered every detail of China. My emotions, however, proved to be too powerful to remember much. It seems a bit like a blur.
Waking up December 25, 2005 ~ finding notes with bible verses on them leading to Chloe's crib where I found a beautiful ring.
Tybee Island April 2010 ~ The ten year anniversary trip that included our precious daughter because neither one of us liked the idea of leaving her.
Summer 2010 Leaving church on a Sunday ~ Sitting in our car looking at each other seeing your eyes full of tears hearing our baby talk about God, the Bible and what she had learned that day.
These are just a few of the sweet memories that are forever etched in my mind. I look forward to every day with you. Seeing how God is shaping you like clay in His hands. Shaping us. I love you so much. Thank you for loving me. Happy Valentine's Day honey!
"The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9
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