I know I’ve said this a million times, but I’m still not sure how I tricked you into marrying me- we both know I got the better end of this deal. Remember when we got engaged and I made you promise you’d be the one to do the dishes because it’s my least favorite chore in the world? I never thought you’d actually follow through on that one, but there you are, every night, rising plates and washing all of my favorite mugs by hand, because you know how sad I’d be if any of them were to chip in the washer. And I never knew that people actually sling a dish towel over their shoulder until I married you. It was like walking into a scene from a movie the first time- handsome husband doing the dishes with a tea towel draped handsomely over his shoulder.

When I first met you, when we first began to get to know each other, I couldn’t have imagined we’d be here. I had no idea of the incredible man you’d continue to grow into, the quiet leadership you possess, the way you pursue me each and every day of our marriage. I didn’t know that those mugs of tea we shared during late nights on Summer Project? Those were just a ruse to spend time with me. You don’t even like tea. I laughed so hard when you finally told me.

I never could have dreamed you up- my expectations of whoever I would marry were so far off five years ago, and I know now the reason for all the heartache and misery. It was to prepare me for YOU, because if I hadn’t had all of the other experiences to show me what I didn’t want in a husband, I never would have been able to see you, for the treasure you are.

Do you know what I see in every aged couple with grizzled, gray hair and folds of wrinkles around their eyes, still holding hands? I see us. I see you and me, older, wiser, stooped with age, but madly in love. I see you still leaving surprise love notes around the house for me to stumble upon as I go about my day, and me whistling at you as you walk out to the car in the morning, just to embarrass you. I see us winning the Anniversary Dance at every wedding we go to, I see us reminiscing, laughing about how our relationship began, I see us still reading Harry Potter and you still suffering through me wanting to watch the seventh movie yet again.

I love every moment of every day that we have together, and I promise to treasure those moments for as long as God chooses to keep blessing us with them. Happy Birthday, my love.