My dearest Ryan,

Yesterday we celebrated another year of loving each other through this crazy, awesome thing called marriage. Eight years ago yesterday we stood in front of our friends and family in that church we first met in and said our wedding vows. I still remember how it felt to hold your hands and say those words and have that wedding band slide onto my finger… utter bliss. A feeling I still experience often when I’m with you.

I feel that joy when I wake up in the morning with you beside me – on those weekends when we have no where to rush off to and can stay in bed. I love those days. I get to soak up your sweet sleepiness and memorize the details of your face. It’s a moment of quiet and stillness where nothing else distracts me from you and I feel that utter bliss once again.

My heart lights up with your excitement… and you have so many things you get excited about! I love that we can share in each others interests, fandoms, and passions. And there are many…  from these we have so many little inside jokes and movie quotes. It’s like having our own personal language merely through these things we love. And when you reference Tolkien or Supernatural or Sherlock or Doctor Who – I feel that giddy joy surge through me again.

There’s this look you give me. Well there’s many of them. There’s your ornery look – that sly smile with the glinting eyes that let me know you’re being a stinker. Then you have your pure joy and excitement – your head kicks back in loud, joyful laughter. It’s hard not to be happy when you’re this happy – it’s like it permeates from you and spreads right to me! And then there’s THE look… the love look. I didn’t need words to know you loved me all those years ago when we started dating. I knew it by the way you looked at me – I can see it in your eyes. Every time you look at me with love in your eyes – that bliss seeps in again!

There are a million little ways everyday that feeling sweeps over me…
When you reach for my hand whenever and wherever we pray.
The way you check on how I’m feeling on tough days.
When you stop what you’re doing to listen to my worries.
The way you help me around the house and with my little projects.
When you hold open the door for me.
The way you never doubt me or my abilities.
When you grab me and dance with me around the kitchen just because.

It’s the way we celebrated the perfect anniversary yesterday. You surprised me by cleaning the house over your lunch break so that when I got home from work – the kitchen and bedroom were spotless. How we had a relaxed grilled dinner of chicken for me and steak for you and tons of delicious veggies. How we watched our wedding video and laughed at how much we’ve changed. How we played wii bowling because you took me bowling at the Eldo Bowl on our first date. How we watched Ratatouille and ate chocolate dipped strawberries – just like on the night you proposed to me. It was the perfect reminder of so many beautiful and perfect moments in our life together.

And this list… goes on and on. You bring so much joy to my life, sweet man.

So here’s me – thanking you for eight amazing years of marriage and twelve wonderful years together. My life would not be the same without you. I feel so immensely blessed to get to walk through all these crazy adventures with you knowing that no matter what comes our way – we can handle it – hand in hand.

All my love, now and forever,
Stephanie