Time with you

Today my husband turns 31 years old, and for the 14^th year in a row, my senses flood with love, respect, admiration, and appreciation as I celebrate who he is and his place at the center of my universe.

Today, I remember celebrating Chad’s 18^th birthday so clearly, when we clinked our Dr. Peppers to his first day on the job mowing lawns for the county. (Chad: remember that sheer sense of relief post-job search? Remember the grass stains on your jeans and the tan on your arms?) Our precious few private moments together filled quickly with kisses and cuddles, aching with the promises of what our life together could be.

Since then, I’ve been chasing more and more time to spend with you. Because it’s never enough.

Today, with a settled joy and established contentment of what we’ve built and who we’ve become and how our story has grown, I still wish for more and more: of you, of us, of a world where I get to know you and love you and keep reaching for tomorrows, together.

Happy birthday, Chad.

I hope 31 treats you right (even better than 30) and I promise to be there by your side through it all, endlessly grateful for each moment of “more” we get. You deserve all the good things to come.

I love you, always.

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