The Man of My Dreams

I remember it like it was yesterday.

The two of us, fresh-faced babies with it all figured out, standing hand in hand ready to conquer the world.

The look in your deep green eyes as we pledged our life-long love, loyalty and faithfulness to one another.

The smoothness of your cheek as we snuggled together posing for photo after photo. We couldn’t have stopped smiling if we wanted to.

It was the day of my dreams. With the man of my dreams.

Or so I thought.

Over the past twelve years, we have crammed a lot of craziness into our lives!

3 kids. 10 moves. 2 countries. 3 states. Cars. Planes. Trains. Boats.

We’ve traveled to places I never in a million years would have dreamed we would go.

I thought I had married the man of my dreams.

Turns out I was wrong.

I married the man who would become the man of my dreams.

I’m in awe of the depth of who you have become as a man. The way you love our children so wrecklessly. The way you stand up and fight for justice. The way you can block out all the junk and just laugh. And enjoy.

The way you see, and express, the beauty in this world. The way you see it in the most unlikely places and can capture it and express it. With the lens of your camera. With wood and lathe. The way you see what you see? It’s a gift. And it’s teaching me to slow down and look for moments of beauty. Light. Fingerprints of God.

This crazy ride called marriage…looks vastly different than it did in my mind’s eye standing in the front of that church those years ago.

And I’m so glad.

While there have been times I would never have chosen to walk through; and certainly wouldn’t want to walk through again, all of what we have traversed has brought us to where we are today. And for that I wouldn’t change a thing.

Today I’m looking at you through the eyes of the one who has slept by your side for over a decade. And through the eyes of a bride swathed in tulle, anticipating the life to come.

Seeing you as the man you were then, the man you are today, and the man you are continuing to become.

And when I see how He has given you such depth; strength; loyalty; creativity in ways I never imagined, I can’t help but fall in love with you all over again.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpAHL3WuJf0]

I’m linking up with Miss Elaine-ous Life, The Better Mom, Time Warp Wife, Growing Home