Love is invincible facing danger and death.
    Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
    it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can’t drown love,
    torrents of rain can’t put it out.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

When I look back over the many days that, over time, built into the nine years that string our story together I see one theme that rises above the rest.

our love.

The love we share.

A love that isn’t built on all romance and happy feelings.

Rather,

A love built of strength and substance.

A love that can stand together through the fiery pits of hell

A love that can dance together on mountain tops of joy.

A love refined by the test of  life. The good, the bad, the ugly.

A love that serves, sacrifices, challenges.

A love so strong it has the power to whisper hope into weary souls.

A love that doesn’t just hold your hand, but picks you up and carries you in your chest, when you are too weak to walk.

A love that withstands major, sometimes never-ending life changes which even include the pain of loss–the loss of dreams, the loss of loved ones.

A love filled with humor, midnight giggles, being silly, and the beautiful sound of laughter.

A love that presses into the deeper pools of the heart, yearning to know more about the complexity of this soul you are woven together with.

A love that shares quiet moments over coffee, when no words are needed, just the presence of another to captivate the heart.

A love that doesn’t need all the money in the world, fancy cars or jobs to survive, rather our love make us rich, far richer than any material possessions.

A love that perseveres when weariness begs us to quit it all.

A love that runs through corn stalk fields and chases sunsets around the world.

A love that is filled with honor, respect, and courage.

A love that is brave in the face of fear.

A love that makes us stronger, not because the journey was easy,

Stronger because we held one another close as we faced, dodged, and braved the arrows shot at us along the way.

Whenever the days seem long, it is the sweet memories we made along the way that brings joy to my heart, a smile to my face. Memories built in the best of times, and in the worst of times.

And I wouldn’t trade any of it because I love you more today than I did nine years ago.

Nine years ago I stood at the altar, held your hand and looked at you googly eyed and filled with romantic wonder. Yet those were just feelings, feelings that are and were true and real. Yet, when I stood at that alter, little did I know the true foundations of love we would build, experience, and enjoy.

Today, nine years later I know a love, a true love that has made me a better woman of God, wife, and friend.

You are my best friend and the years that await ahead for us draws anticipations and expectancy,

the best is yet to come my love….

Happy Anniversary!