If there is something that I believe in more than anything else in this life, it is LOVE. I also believe that there is a love at first sight. I recall the first time I saw Maggie like it was today, we were interviewing for the same job as EMT’s. She was wearing grey dress pants, a purple blouse, her hair was long, brown, and smelled like a floral arrangement. Her eyes, oh her eyes, they were beautiful and right then and there I knew that I wanted to look into those big beautiful eyes every day and say “I love you”. I wanted her to be the last thing I saw before I fell asleep and the first thing I saw when I woke up. Just writing this my heart is fluttering thinking of that indescribable feeling a got when I saw my true love for the first time.

I cannot stress enough today that finding your true love is one of the most amazing experiences anyone will ever experience. Sure we go through life and relationships come and go, but there is a difference between loving someone, lust, and being IN love with someone. Sometimes it is easy to get these feelings confused. Although when you get “THE” feeling there is no describing it. It makes you want to scream it from the rooftops, it makes you understand that there is some greater power that destined us (you) to be together. If you’re a parent the only other way I can describe it is the first time you see your child. Its that good.

I have been reading things in the media about marriage and how its hard (well let me grab my soap box) ITS NOT HARD. Its not a chore, ITS MARRIAGE, you are a team, you are partners.Its one of the magical things that happens and builds a stronger bond to each other. You get through these things in a way that no single person can, there is two of you to conquer the hard time, and two of you to party harder during the good times.

Let me break this down for you 🙂

I, ____, take you, ____, to be my lawfully wedded(husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

• To have and to hold- This means that you are always there for each other as well as the ones around you. When you have a bad day, you want nothing more than for your partner, your team, to root you on to kick that days ass and push forward. We are each others cheer leaders, a shoulder to cry on, a shirt sleeve to wipe away the tears. To hug, hug everyday and cheer on the team!
• For better- YAY cheer on the team when its killing it out there on the field.
• For worse- YAY cheer on the team harder, show the big letter you drew on your tummy to root them on. Also offer your shoulder and hugs, then high five, and turn worse to better!!
• For richer- Who doesn’t like money, but remember its not about cash. The richest thing you have is each other. Money cannot buy happiness, sure it can buy things that make you feel good, but that is only temporary. You are each others rocks. Put in the teamwork to support each other so that you are happy and the money will follow. A saying I learned is “Fortune aids those who are daring” so dare each other to be better every day!
• For poorer- When the chips are down, the only way to go is up. Encourage each other to conquer and overcome. Together you are unstoppable.
• In sickness- When you significant other is sick, take care of them, this can be hard at times, but it can also be highly rewarding. To help someone in need is an amazing feat and the reward is being there.
• In health- Live every day like its your last, celebrate life and make memories not for you but for your grandchildren.
• Until death do us part- Enough said, celebrate every day, Hug, kiss, hold hands, and never ever go to bed angry.

Ok I’ll get off my soap box now 😉

With all that, I want you to remember why you fell in love, why you are together, and celebrate this everyday. I don’t care if you have been together for weeks, months, years, or decades. Take time for YOU and truly remember why you got those indescribable feelings in the first place, then get that fire burning again and party like its 1999 (insert prince song here).

Now this part is just for Maggie-

  Maggie I love you more today than that first time I saw you. My heart still flutters when I see you, and when we hold hands while driving. I am soon happy to have my dream of finding the perfect woman come true and happier that its you 😉 Our paths have taken some crazy off road detours but it just proves that fact that we can conquer anything, or anyone that gets thrown at us. You are my rock, and sometimes my cattle prod, you push me every day to be better than I was yesterday. So I want to say thank you, thank you for being you, thank you for making my life amazing. I cannot wait to grow old with you and sit on our porch in rocking chairs watching our grandchildren play in the yard. I love you more than words can describe. I can’t wait to see where life journey takes us.

Here’s to a life of spontaneous adventures, laughing all the way 🙂

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