LETTERS TO ALEX
To my husband, on our very first anniversary.
This year just hasn’t seemed real at times. Sometimes I’ll wake up in the dead of the night, and quietly slide my hand into yours under the warmth of the covers and just marvel at the fact that you are mine and I am yours. When we were engaged, I heard the same thing from everyone who tried to give me advice, “The first year will be the hardest.” Because of this, I was skeptical the first few months - I kept waiting and thinking, “When is this going to get hard?” I honestly kept thinking to myself that this was too good to be true, and I was almost waiting on something terrible to happen that would damage our relationship or take you away from me forever. But it didn’t. We faced our fears and trials together, and with courage. Neither of us tried to take back what we vowed on that day, one year ago now. We both just grabbed the others hand, looked in the others’ eyes and said “Let’s go.” I hope that never changes. I hope our relationship doesn’t callus with time like some do - that fifty years from now we’ll still be a team, working together to navigate across the country figure out where our house is, cooking dinner together, and helping each other up the stairs. You bring me peace, and that is one of the things I have gained since marrying you that I didn’t expect to. When I see you walk through the door at the end of the day, I can breathe, I can smile, all the stresses of the day go away. You’re a good man and I’m proud to have you as my husband. No matter how hard it gets in the future, I’ll be here. Our life is really going to change in the next year, but I have no doubts that we can not only handle it, but embrace it together. I can’t wait to watch you change and adapt as we walk through this journey together, but I pray that you still remain as gentle and understanding as you are now. No matter where you’re sent or how long you’re gone, I’ll be here waiting to be your helper again.
One year and going strong… let’s keep it up, honey.
