"Every day will be our Honeymoon."

"Every day will be our Honeymoon."

9 years ago today, I made the above promise to my husband on our wedding day. Why you may ask? At the time, our "Honeymoon" consisted of packing our separate households and moving to WY for his job while his family came along for the ride in a U-haul and 2 car caravan. Right Poppy? (Still thankful for them by the way! Especially my mother and father-in-law who drove the U-Haul through a tornado and still got themselves and our things to Laramie safely. That's a whole other story in itself.) Looking back, I am sure my husband wouldn't say "Every Day" has been a honeymoon but we've sure had fun using my promise for later travels saying, "This trip will be the honeymoon we never had." We've been so many places and seen so many things thanks to his military career and the "Honeymoon we never had."

Many of you were with us 9 years ago today witnessing our vows before God. We are thankful you are all still part of our marriage today. You've been there to cheer us on during games, moves, TDY's, career changes, failed attempts at In-Vitro and while we waited for the call offering us a chance to meet our possible baby girl. You also cried tears of joy and shouted God's praise with us the day we brought that same little girl home to be ours forever. Our perfect little angel. I am thankful to all of you for your support and prayers over the past 9 years.

Above all, I am thankful that God and your sister brought you into my life. We have learned and are continuing to learn what marriage is about. You allowed me to help you when your career with the military was cut short. Many people would have pushed their spouse away but you let me in and allowed me to grieve with you and to be strong for you. You have seen me at my very best and my worst and you love me anyway. You gave me the will to live when I didn't think I could if it meant I couldn't give you a child of your own.

Slowly you allowed your heart to open to the idea of adoption and to raising a child someone else could not. We learned together that contributing an egg or sperm does not alone make you a mother or a father. It's being there every day with a child teaching them, loving them encouraging them and nurturing them that is what makes a parent a parent. You are the father I always knew you would be. The night you and YaYa met she sat in your lap and she wrapped her long toes around your fingers but she also wrapped them around your giant heart. I'll never forget the look in your eyes at that moment. FEAR! Just kidding. It was pure love and hope. I love you more today than I ever imagined possible. I said 9 years ago, "Where you go, I will go." Little did I know how much that vow alone would be tested. I still mean it today. You are the love of my life and I am thankful for every minute we've shared the past 9 years both as Christians, as a couple and now as parents of our beautiful daughter.

I am sorry that I'm sick with the flu and can't celebrate our anniversary with you tonight. Remember, today is part of our honeymoon even if you are sharing it with my dad and our daughter instead of me. You're a real trooper! I LOVE YOU!