Twenty-Eight Years

I love you

Not only for what you are,

But for what I am

When I am with you

I love you,

Not only for what

You have made of yourself,

But for what you are making of me.

I love you

For the part of me

That you bring out;

I love you

For putting your hand

Into my heaped-up heart

And passing over,

All the foolish weak things

That you can’t help

Dimly seeing there

And for drawing out

Into the light

All the beautiful belongings

That no one else looked

Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you

Are helping me to make

Of the lumber of my life

Not a tavern,

But a temple;

Out of the works

Of my every day

Not a reproach,

But a song.

You have done this

Without a touch,

Without a word,

Without a sign.

You have done it

By being yourself.

Perhaps that is what

Being a friend means,

After all.

Twenty-eight years ago today, as young seminary students, we married.  I am so thankful that I made that choice.  We fit like a glove.  His strengths are my weaknesses and vice versa.  He challenges me and I challenge him.  Someone told us a few years ago that we truly do compliment one another.

He is a wonderful and thoughtful husband, as well as a good father.  There are so many reasons I love this man and yet, at times I take him for granted.  I'm thankful that these anniversaries roll around each year because it's a fresh reminder of how much I have been blessed.

He doesn't know it yet, but I am packing a picnic dinner and we are headed out for a quiet dinner by the lake tonight.  We have two graduation parties today and one tomorrow to go to so it seemed as if we weren't going to get to do too much.  However, I wanted to do something to show him how much I appreciate him.

Happy Anniversary to my sweet guy.  I love you!