Celebrate

I used to believe that there was more than one soulmate for everyone.

It was just a matter of fate bringing two people together, becoming comfortable, and falling in love. It was scary to think that there was only one chance to fall in love. What if I missed it? What if I wasn't looking in the right place? There had to be more than one person that was meant to be my soulmate... right?

This theory was driven by my fears. My biggest was to be alone.

Then one hot summer evening, I met the boy I was going to marry. I didn't know it at the time and neither did he. I don't remember all the details but I remember leaning against the fence in my cute bikini (during the days of perky boobs and no stretch marks) and saying to my friends, "I'm going to marry him." Being that I was also going to marry the local banker, the local VW dealer, and my neighbor at the beach this statement didn't come as a surprise to those around me. (I believed in multiple soulmates, remember? I had to be prepared.)

A few months later, we began dating.

A few years later, we were pregnant.

A few months later, we were married.

A few months later, we were parents.

We didn't do it the storybook way. First love, then marriage, then baby carriage... not us. We bent the rules a little bit. We don't live a fairytale and there are some days that I want to rip his head off.

4 years of marriage is an accomplishment. Especially considering we have had two babies during that time. Don't laugh. I think one year of marriage is an accomplishment. You have to work at marriage. It isn't always rainbows and sunshine. Sometimes it is poopie diapers and big ugly rain clouds.

I often think to myself "if we can make it through this part, we can make it through anything". We are young, we have two small children, we have no money, and our communication skills suck. Our life is not terrible by any means. However, I'm hoping that this is the worst of times and that the best of times are yet to come.

I'm sure in a few years, we will look back and laugh. We make things work. We don't always work together but somehow it all works out.


10 years ago I met my future husband. I also learned that there was only one soulmate for a person. He is mine.

4 years of marriage is an accomplishment. Today we celebrate.

Ryan,
Thank you for making me the happiest girl in the world 4 years ago on this day. I will never forget it. The surprise ring, the Easter lilies, my growing belly, what we wore, our best friends, and how you demanded we not get married at the courthouse. Ha! I just wanted to pull a Britney Spears and be done with it. I'm glad you made me do it differently.
Thank you for making me smile and promising me that we will grow old together. Thank you for being the best Dad to our sweet girls. We all love you more than you will ever know.
Forever and always,
Hailey

PS- I will never be able to stand the way you brush your teeth but I will always love you.

PPS- It is time that you stop locking the bathroom door when you shower. 4 years of marriage and two children say that it is time. ;-)


"The most important thing in life is your family.
In the end, they're the people you always come home to. Sometimes it's the family you're born into and sometimes it's the one you make for yourself." ~Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City