Happy 10th Anniversary!

The first thing you said to me early on the morning of this, our 10th anniversary, was: “You need to hold me more.” Well baby, I couldn’t agree more. I do need to hold you more. Ten years just hasn’t been anywhere near long enough! I need to hold you as our four beautiful children continue to learn and grow. I need to hold you when Noah leaves on his mission. I need to hold you when Micah gets married. I need to hold you when DeeKen has the first few girls ask him out, and he goes on his first date. I need to hold you when Josie, our baby, has her first baby. I need to hold you as we make career plans, and decide where to move our family. I need to hold you as the Lord continues to test and try us and prepare us for whatever future plans He has for us. I need to hold you when things are so great I can hardly believe this life is mine, and I need to hold you when I think my world has fallen apart. I do need to hold you more . . . because you’re nice to hold. You’re warm and comforting. You’re encouraging and strengthening. You make me feel like I can do it, like I can beat it, like I can achieve it, like I can make it. When I hold you, I am loved, I am safe, I am home. Thank you for holding me for the past ten years. Thanks for holding all the little pieces of me that seem to fall apart so easily, and for keeping me together, and then letting me think that I was doing it on my own. Thanks for taking a role outside of the spotlight and doing a thankless job where very few see or understand your years of effort, patience, mental and physical fatigue, care and concern . . . and thank you for doing it in such a way that very few see or understand it. You truly act in so many selfless ways! I’m glad that we’re in this together. I’m happy that you’re my partner. And as we celebrate ten years I look forward to so many more, even to eternity! Thanks for being my AmyGirl! And I promise that I will hold you more. Why would I ever want to let go? I love you. John Boy