October marks the beginning of my favorite times of the year - The 'ber' months. October also is my husband's and my anniversary month, not wedding, but the anniversary of when we decided to give the whole dating thing a try. I recently had a girls night and briefly discussed our relationship but it really got me thinking.
Honestly, Devin and I went through a lot of trials that first year together. The fact that we came out of it intact is surprising. We both put each other through the ringer. We were young, I had my issues, he had his. But even when we argued I knew I didn't want to argue with anyone else. And somehow we made it past that first year... And here we are now, married for a couple years, with a beautiful little boy and another on the way.
So many people we associated ourselves with back when we started dating doomed our relationship from the get go. Giving it an expiration date again and again. This October marks 7 amazing years and the foundation that our relationship is built on continues to get stronger and stronger. Sure there has been storms weathered and cracks in the foundation, but we've repaired them and have continued to build to it along the way together.
And then there were those people who never really knew either of us outside of a casual friendship who thought we were just the perfect couple. We are far from perfect. Our relationship has had its turbulence. The only different between us and the relationships of so many 20-somethings we know is that we went into this knowing it wasn't going to just be all sunshine and cupcakes. We knew it was going to take work.
Marriage is not something that is effortless. It is a daily effort to nurture it, grow it, and maintain it. It is a daily effort to go out of your way to make sure your spouse knows how much you love them and how important they are. You must take care and and time every single day, even if it is a simple text. It gets harder when kids come into the picture, you aren't just husband and wife, you are mommy and daddy. But you still have to uphold your relationship with your husband with the utmost importance and respect. Never taking for granted your spouse, never forgetting them, never replacing them.
Back when Devin and I were just flirty 21 year olds I never thought that I would fall in love with Devin, even if I could stretch the imagination enough to see potentially dating him, marrying and having children with him wasn't even in my realm of possibility. It's funny looking back because I can see how into him I was but how much I held back because of something as silly as race. But everything has it's season and I am glad that we ended up getting together when we did because it unfolded as it should have and might not have if we had gotten together any earlier.
Having the privilege of watching Devin grow into the man, the husband, and the father that he is today is truly a blessing. Getting to know him, being a friend, being his girlfriend, eventually becoming his wife. I truly appreciate the 7 years we have spent together and look forward to all the years ahead. Growing old together and having that type of connection with another person that you always hope for. Because that is what he is to me... Our relationship, is everything and more that I could ask for. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have such an intimate and gratifying relationship and to have that type of person in my life because not everyone is so fortunate.He truly is my one true love, and I thank God everyday that I found him.
Happy 7 years my beloved. Your love astounds me, supports me, and lifts my spirit in a way that nothing else can. You gave me a beautiful gift by giving me your heart, and then took it even a step further and gave me the gift of becoming a mother. There is no one else I would rather share my life with, raise children with, or lay my head next to at night. The fact that you chose me, you gave yourself to me, you love me... I couldn't be more grateful. I hold my relationship with you in the highest regards. You are truly an amazing man and I am honored that you chose me to be by your side come what may. Thank you for showing me a love that I thought only existed in fairy tales. You make me a better person and make me strive to be better. You are my love, my best friend - and knowing you is knowing the best of me. You're an amazing individual and I love you.
Here is to the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky. I will always carry your heart.
