A Decade!

Ten years ago today was one of the most important days of my life.  I remember vividly how excited and terrified I was of getting married.  I loved John and wanted to married him, felt like it was the right thing to do...but even so, marriage is scary!  Because my father is a family law attorney, I had heard my fair share of marriage horror stories over the years.  Marrying John though was the best decision I've ever made.  I'm not saying that marriage isn't hard sometimes, and we've certainly made each other very angry and hurt each other over the years, but I still love, appreciate, and need John more than I can say.  I love him more now than I did when we got married, and I know that love will only continue to grow.  

So, in honor of our ten year anniversary (which, by the way, means that I've spent 1/3 of my life with him!) I thought I would share ten of my favorite things about John.

1.  He gets me.  In a way that no one else does, more than anyone else does.  Sometimes I think he knows me better than I know myself.  And he loves me anyway!  What a miracle.

2.  He supports me 100 percent.  My business would absolutely not be possible without him.  Not only does he encourage and support me, he pushes me to better.  In addition to the emotional support, he helps me with the mundane aspects of my work.  He does LOTS of dishes, lets me wake him up at ridiculous hours to package cookies or whatever for the market, helps me set up at the market, drives me on cake deliveries when I'm too tired to drive, irons tablecloths, prints labels, designs business cards, handles all the awful computer stuff, helps with the kids, rolls fondant, and has even been known to make buttercream for me.  I would not be successful without him.

3.  He has an amazing work ethic.  I feel like a total bum in comparison.  He works all day at his full time job, comes home and works for several hours on his side job, and still finds time to help around the house, help with the kids, and help with the business.  He almost always puts relaxation and fun time last.  I'm SO bad at that.

4.  He treats me as an equal partner.  I've never felt looked down on, less than him, or like his opinion is more important.  I can't fully emphasize how important this is.

5.  He helps around the house.  A lot.  In fact, he does 100% of the laundry, from washing, to folding, to putting away.  It wouldn't regularly get done if it were up to me, and it would certainly never get put away.  Dishes, yard work, teaching the boys to clean...he rocks.

6.  He makes me laugh.  Of course, he also makes me roll my eyes a lot, but I have fun with him.  

7.  He's a fantastic dad.  He plays with the boys in a way that I'm not good at, has that special dad relationship with them.  I love it.

8.  He has the most amazing family.  Seriously, I love my in-laws.  A lot.  They are the kindest people, and so much fun to be around.  I miss them as much as I miss my own family (well, they are MY family too, but you know what I mean).  And I appreciate what a great job they did raising John!

9.  He put his family first.  I know that he will always be there for me when I need him.  And he is so concerned about being able to provide for us and take care of us.  I've seen him stay in a job he hated (back when we first moved to Texas) because he knew he needed to provide for us.  

10.  He's my best friend.  Plain and simple.  

I love you John!  Sorry to get overly sappy.  Happy ten years to us, and here's to many more!