My 15th anniversary love letter to my husband

Dear Jason-

We have been married 15 years today.

But, as we joke…. only 14 of those years have been happy.

The first year of our marriage was undoubtedly the hardest year of our life.

We struggled to learn how to be married.  We struggled to grow up. We struggled to think of the other person first. We struggled to communicate.  We struggled with more in that first year than some marriages go thru in a lifetime.

Many people thought we should just give up.  And it would have been easy for us to throw in the towel had we not at the simplest level….just adored each other.

It terrifies me now to think of it really.  Look at what we would have missed!!!

I am forever grateful that you loved me enough and I loved you enough that we didn’t give up on each other.

I am forever grateful that people CAN change….and we are both testimonies of that.

I’m forever grateful for a God who brought our marriage to it’s knees in order to get us into church.

I’m forever grateful for that marriage counselor who was a neutral 3rd party and helped us navigate our wounds.

I’m forever grateful for the close friends and family members who encouraged us to do the work / the hard stuff to stick it out.

I’m forever grateful for forgiveness and 2nd chances and new beginnings.

I’m forever grateful that when we gave our lives to Christ….we got to start over on our marriage!

As I write to you today, I want you to know how much I appreciate that you let me be me.  I tend to be frazzled and driven and chaotic and disciplined all at the same time…..and you love me right where I am at. And I know sometimes that means our life is chaos.  Thank you for embracing the chaos with me.

You have always been my biggest cheerleader and my toughest critic. You tell me when I am amazing and you tell me when I am completely wrong.  And I need that. And I trust you for it.

You’ve encouraged every crazy thing I’ve ever wanted to try…..

When I decided to run. You encouraged it. And you ran with me.

When I decided to start a paint company.  You encouraged it.  And you painted with me.

When I asked if we could have a 3rd baby to try for that girl….. you made a 3rd baby with me!  =)

When I decided to triathlon…..you were my biggest fan with posters and bells and our kids at every race!

When I brought up adoption….you gave it to the Lord in prayer and came back in agreement.

When I wanted to be vegan for a month….you cooked vegetables for me all month long.

When I’ve been on tv lately….you’ve met with with flowers and chocolate every time I walk out of the studio.

You are my biggest fan and I wouldn’t have the guts to try anything if you didn’t believe in me.

Thank you.  Thank you for being you. The most generous, selfless man on this earth. Thank you for giving all of yourself to me and our family and our faith.

Thank you for not quitting when we could of.

Thank you for making every day an adventure.

You are God’s greatest gift to me.  And for that…..I am forever grateful.

All my love,
Your wife