My Valentine

I was fortunate enough to meet my soulmate at age 8, he was 14. He was my brother's best friend and called my parents "mom" and "dad" long before they were his inlaws.

I watched him graduate high school, Army boot camp and Washington & Jefferson College long before we dated. I remember  at age 12 or 13, laying on my bedroom floor with my best friend Maralee, declaring that I would marry him.

I stood on the beach, at nearly 17, and asked God aloud to make him mine. It worked and we began dating shortly thereafter. He took me to my Senior prom and attended my high school graduation. And one October night in 1990, he knelt down in a park at Pitt University and asked me to marry him.

He graduated dental school and was pulled to active duty unexpectedly. At 18 I married him and off we moved to Fort Bragg NC and began our married journey together.

We have enjoyed 21 years and  4 beautiful  boys.  We have endured my suffering from manic depression for nearly all of our marriage and 2 bouts of severe PPD that required weeks of hospitalization. He has spent countless sleepless nights comforting me. He watched me nearly die giving birth to our last baby when my blood pressure soared from pre~eclampsia, then crashed to 43/20. He's written me poetry, remodeled my 180 year old dream house, worked tirelessly building 2 dental practices and has been the best father to our sons.

In all, he has been my Prince Charming and fulfilled the vows he made to me faithfully and with an ever joyful and optimistic attitude.

Some people overlook Valentine's Day as a silly Hallmark driven holiday full of pressure to buy unnecessary gifts and sappy cards. I see it as a day to remember and give thanks for the love of my life and the romance I asked God for on that beach nearly 23 years ago.

Happy Valentine's Day <3
                 
     

               
                   ~Via Pinterest



Happily sharing this at   Feathered Nest Friday