Dear Daniel,

Five years ago today I promised “to love you my whole life. You and no other.” Well okay, so we didn’t actually say that, William Wallace and Merrin said that when they got married. But even though we said those traditional Catholic vows that must be said and not the simply, sweet romantic vows from Braveheart that we both love – the end result was the same. Or actually completely different. Since she died like the next morning and I didn’t die at all and you didn’t have to paint your face blue and stuff. But apart from that, the same, right? Just go with me on this.

Because even though the end result was different, their love to me is quite similar to ours in that it took awhile to get started, but then moved at lighting speed and with the kind of certainty that cannot be explained. It just is. But looking back I am amazed at the strength and bravery and sense of certainty that we brought to those first early months and years together. It was a scary time with our lives changing so very much so quickly and we really had no idea what we were doing. But we knew without a doubt that we loved each other and I knew with certainty that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.

And baby look at us now! I still know all of these things to be true as our lives continue to move together at warp speed, always changing – from year to year of our marriage we’ve had major life changes from babies to new jobs to major moves and first houses, but while the scenery has been constantly changing, our love doesn’t change, unless you count the part where I love you more each day. Where every day, every week, every month, every year I get to know you more and wonder how it’s possible and love you even more and wonder how that’s possible and thank my lucky stars that I found you and that you love me, too.

Basically, we’re awesome and sometimes I want to shout it from the roof tops and brag about you incessantly and then stick out my tongue and say, na na na na na! You can’t have him! ‘Cause your mine, you know.

Happy Anniversary, sweetie! I love you so much.

Love,

Wifely