Today is my 14th wedding anniversary.
My Kristen,
There is something distinctly you that resonates deep within my soul. It is your character. Your confidence. Your purity.
My distant memories of you at Southwestern ring true to your soft, strong personality. You were like no one else. Your confident, quiet stare screamed purpose, conviction and integrity. Many of the people we brushed shoulders with, both male and female, were less than genuine in both their interpersonal behavior and their walk with Christ. It was like the difference between Diet Coke and the real thing. Five minutes wasted with one of these individuals quickly revealed emptiness.
You, however,…what a breath of clean fresh oxygen. The hours spent playing cards, driving to church, and sitting on the porch swing at Collins Hall seemed like mere minutes. There was something about you that drew me to you. Before I knew that I loved you, my soul loved you.
You were my princess!
Foolish immaturity allowed you to slip through my grasp. It’s dumbfounding, my inability to see the treasure that was standing before me. Thankfully, providence could not be denied.
I remember the moment I realized I was deeply in love with you. We weren’t seeing each other. We had never kissed. It was a night in early June of 1994 and I left a message on your answering machine. My heart was pounding so hard, I could barely leave a message to tell you that I was thinking of you. (Really, I was longing for you.) My deepest fantasy was that you too were in love with me. How could I have ever known that this fantasy would come to life?
On December 17, 1994, I married my best friend. True to character you presented yourself to me, a spotless bride.
Though the past fourteen years have shaped and molded the both of us, the core of who you were then is still intact today. Your pristine beauty, integrity, and pure love are the qualities that are infused within me.
Outstanding Mother
Purposeful Homemaker
Servant of God
Constant Companion
Faithful Friend
Kindred Spirit
Beautiful Soul
Proverbs 31:28-29 says this about you,
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
You are woven and intertwined in the deepest parts of my flesh, mind, spirit, and soul. To breathe, is to love you.
Happy Fourteenth Anniversary
68 comments:
love it. happy anniversary to you both.
Congratulations to the happy couple! Such sweet letters.
And you've got the look! :-)
That is the most touching post you have ever done. I have tears in my eyes as I see you reading that letter. I feel your heart beating faster and the lump in your throat build up. I don't know you, but I do know you, and I know that the lette he wrote will mean more to you than any diamond, or silver he could have bought. What a gem you have in him and he in you. What an example to your children you both are. What a Christ like example to us you all are. Thank you for sharing that with the world. You once again truly touched my heart and I thank you!
Love and hugs to you and your family.
Congratulations on 14 years! Many many many blessed returns of the day.
What wonderful presents you've given each other. ;-)
What wonderful gifts to each other! Happy anniversary!!
What an amazing gift from your husband, beautiful! Thank you for sharing the oh so special letter inside. You are surely blessed...God Bless & Merry Christmas!!
Awesome. Just awesome.
Congratulations! Wishing you many, many more years... together!!!
Wow. Wow. Your husband just made me cry. How sweet and touching and thoughtful! Happy Anniversary to you both!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! Your Husband is a PRINCE! I know you'll treasure that letter FOREVER!!
We just celebrated our 13th in September. And funny thing is, I believe my Hubby has gotten a few of THOSE looks, too!! ;)
Congratulations! I wish you many, many more years together.
That is a very lovely love letter. What a great guy you have. And I am not jealous at all because I have a guy like that, too.
That is so romantic! I love the box you got and the treasure it held. It's true that not many people write letters anymore. That's what makes it extra special. Happy Anniversary!!!
I'm going to put that book on my husband's pillow tonight! What an amazing gift. I'd love for my dad to do it as well... Have fun on your date!
Congratulations!!! You guys certainly seem to have what it takes to make it. Not perfection, but devotion. God bless many more years together!
Happy Anniversary!!!
What a wonderful gift!
It looks and sounds like a great book. I tried to order one for my husband, but they don't ship APO. Guess we'll have to wait until we're in the states.
Awww, that is so awesome! What a joy to have such a wonderful relationship with your DH. Really, I'm so inspired that there are couples like that out there!
I wonder if my husband would read it if I got it for him... Hmm....
~Angela :-)
This is so sweet. My husband spent two tours in Iraq. The letters we exchanged were an unanticipated bonus and a tradition we try to continue. hugs, Jen
That man of yours should start his own blog! What a letter. Happy Anniversary to you both!
Beautiful. What a wonderful marriage you guys have.
I'm crying...and I'm in love with the love that your husband has for you...and you for him. Happy Anniversary!
As my husband would say "You two are like love in a bucket!"
Bless you, your marriage and your family this Christmas.
Happy Anniversary!
I almost felt like I was reading something too personal with his letter..
then I read yours.. and giggled a bit!
Ya'll must have a wonderful good time together!
this was our 14th anniversary too ;-) (Oct)
What a thoughtful gift! Happy Anniversary!!
Happy Anniversary!
How beautiful! I wasn't sure that the Southwestern mention in your letter was SAGU but I realized it when Collins was mentioned. I didn't attend SAGU but I worked at the college when my hubby and I were engaged and the church we attended was a big supporter. Small world!
That was just perfect ! Congratulations on 14 yrs. of becoming that family;)
We will also be married 14 yrs. Dec. 25th, and I think the ugliness of our church could give your orange a reprive.
Merry Christmas, Holly
Happy Anniversary! I pray today is a wonderful day for you both! My God bless your marriage with all happy years, and 100 more of them!
I gave you an award on my blog today.
*sniff sniff* How beautiful! Thank you for sharing that!
(I beebopped over from Rocks.)
Happy Anniversary!
*sniff sniff* How beautiful! Thank you for sharing that!
(I beebopped over from Rocks.)
Happy Anniversary!
*sniff sniff*
What an awesome, loving man you have...happy anniversary! :)
Happy Anniversary! That was just AWESOME! I mean REALLY AWESOME!!
Here's to many many more happy years together!!
~Tidymom
PS- oh, I tagged you on my blog, if you have time.
Happy Anniversary!!
What beautiful, beautiful letters - both of them. You inspired me enough to click directly over to Amazon to order "Letters from Dad" for my Hubby.
Thank you.
The box is so beautiful...but not as beautiful as the words inside, and definitely not as beautiful as the love that inspired the words.
What a treasure you both have found in each other. It really is refreshing. Lovely post Kristen
Happy Anniversary you two! Enjoy your date you soooo deserve it considering the past few weeks. and I sooooooooooo ordered the Letters From Dad book!! Hubby did a video one time sharing his heart for each of us but I think the letter idea is beautiful!! Cant wait to give it to him. Oh and I LOVE your look! It so cracks me up!
Next time maybe a little bit of an advance warning, something like..."get the kleenex ladies the snots going to roll on this one!" :)
Take care,
Julie
Oh and another thing after reading his letter to you- your son is SOOO much like his father! He is so romantic - I will never forget the first day I meet him (he was 2-your son not hubby hee hee) he walked up to me and asked "can I kiss you?" too cute! He's going to be a little Romeo and the girls are gonna go gaga over him!
Lovely! Whilte I haven't written or received a letter to or from my husband, I did receive a letter from my sweet Mom, several years after she died. My mother wrote a letter to my soon to be mother in law before hubs and I married. In it she thanked my MIL for raising a God fearing, respectful, sweet son. In the course of moving, MIL came across the letter, and sent it on to me, knowing what it would mean since I no longer had my own Mom and Dad. Letter writing is a lost art that we need to revive!
I am going to hell.
I feel nothing but utter jealousy.
:)
So happy for both of you. And for your children.
Seems God knows what he is doing huh?
Everybody above said it better, so I'll just say thanks for sharing this with us!!!
Happy Anniversary!! What a precious gift! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Happy Anniversary! Sweet, sweet blessings to you both.
Happy Anniversary! I loved reading your letters. His made me cry. Yours had me laughing out loud. I tried to get Greg to read this post, but he wouldn't. Said that these letters are private. I said, "She posted them. They aren't private anymore." I think he just doesn't want to write a letter of his own!
can someone pass a tissue please. I've got tears (and mucus in my nose - pardon the overshare) reading this. Way too sweet - yes, both letters. Thanks you so much for sharing.
Liza
OH.MY.GOODNESS!
What a beautiful man you are fortunate to have! What a beautiful letter that he blessed you with. I am sitting here in tears of joy for you on your anniversary day. What a precious gift he has given - your letter to him is just as beautiful. I, too, would like nothing better than to have my husband pour out his heart in a letter - if only our men understood that it takes so little to make us blissfully happy - just to know their heart!
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I am thinking about checking out the book for my husband too!
Thanks also for stopping by and leaving a sweet comment on my blog.
Blessings to you and Happy Anniversary!
Kymber
what an awesome letter. stumbled over here from boomamas tour of homes. WOW!! what a man... my 10yr anniversary is coming up in january. maybe i should get him this for christmas!!
That is SO SWEET!!!!!
Happy Anniversary!!!!
Blessings,
Megan
wow.
After reading his letter, i will have to check that book out! what keeper! happy anniversary!
-kristen
Wow, you've got one amazing hubby there. What a touching letter. Thank you for sharing...
Wow, that is so sweet!
that is too sweet
What a SWEET letter...you can see how much he cherishes you. :)
Oh my...be still my beating heart. Wow.
Oh my gosh I have tears from that and I am sure I would still be misty even if I wasn't hormonal and pregnant! SO touching!
pure sweetness!
you wrote about meeting at "southwestern" where is that college at???
Heartwarming!!! Happy Anniversary!!!
Wow, Kristen, just wow.
Congratulations on your anniversary. Clearly there will be many more.
His letter is beautiful and touching. This is one of your first posts that I have read and I feel like I know you so well already! Congratulations on your wedding anniversary.
Wow.
Wow.
and wow.
Your sincere thoughts and feelings came through in both letters.
Touching.
Inspirational.
Thank you for sharing.
Very cool. His letter? Amazing. Yours? VERY fitting for you and your style. (In a few years when you look back and read it again, it'll take you back, right to where you are now.)
Happy anniversary!
This is so sweet. I bought that book for my husband, but he never picked it up. You are one lucky lady:-) Sounds like a wonderful Anniversary.
You must be one of the luckiest women I know. Your husband is a true gentleman and his letter is absolutely beautiful. All the best for many, many more years to come.
You sound like a wonderful match. And you definitely carry the sense of humor gene for the family!
Lovely, thank you. : )
-- Laurie @ Foolery
Sigh... I love these stories. So glad Marcy invited us all to share!
I love this story and am just sorry I missed it the first time around.
So glad you contributed this to Proposal 2.0!
Love the box and you caught a good one!
My favorite was the last pic!
Wow, it sounds like the two of you share something pretty incredible. Thank you SO much for being a part of what will surely be one of the most memorable days of my life.
I'm dumbstruck, discombobulated and incredibly happy.
Congratulations, Kristen. What beautiful letters! Happy anniversary, and I wish you many more years of happiness together. :)
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