An Open Love Letter To My Valentine
Over the weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed on The Luckiest Mom Podcast for a Valentines Day Special. I shared hilarious and awkward dating stories (Nudity in foreign films + Jello Wrestling), our famous Kiss, why I look forward to growing old with my husband, and how were embracing all the changes in our personal growth and in our relationship. I had so much fun talking with Reagen Ogle about our love story, but there were so many things I wish I would've shared but didn't get the chance to express. So here it is, my open letter to my valentine expressing all the things I wanted to say but didn't.
To my Valentine,
First things first, I’m sorry. You told me not to share embarrassing stories but I did. I love those hilarious and cringe worthy moments, because we were young, wild and free. I love that we have those silly memories to look back on and to see how far we’ve come. Who knew Jello wrestling was a bad idea for one of our first impressions haha also who knew that our first foreign film together would lead to a LOT of nudity and misunderstood Asian cultural references. I thought I was looking pretty fly in all my spray tan glory, but bless your heart you stuck through with me during that awkward beauty moment. Speaking of which, thank you for falling in love with me whether I was Blonde, Brunette, Red, Raven Black, and finally bubblegum pink. Its not about falling in love with appearances, you thought I was beautiful inside and out. Thank you for seeing me through all my experimental hair days.
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| 2009 was a different time of BIG hair and Orange Spray tans |
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| Proof that Yes I Jello wrestled, and yep it was epic |
I wish I would’ve mentioned how important our SPOT is in Julia Davis Park in Downtown Boise. We said I love you on that park bench under the stars. That’s where you proposed to me only a few months later. And eventually that’s where we took our kids for a picnic 5 years after those monumental declarations of love. I still listen to the CD I made you entitled "Our SPOT mix".
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| DTR'D on our Bench at our SPOT |
When I talked about how we stay in love 8 years later, I did a poor job explaining that falling in love is chance, but staying in love is a choice. It was chance encounters that brought us together, but it’s every day choices that keep us together. Without fail, you kiss me goodbye for work every morning! That means all of my gross morning breath has been yours for the taking Every. Single. Day. 365 days a year, for 8 years. The choice to slow dance during the ending credits of movies always makes me smile. The choice to hold my hand and wipe my tears on Sentimental Saturday’s makes me that much more in love with you; despite showing me inspirational YouTube videos of rescue animals, athletes beating cancer, and the ever favorite YouTube genre of feminism and women supporting other women. You love to make me cry. The choice to love you in the good times and in the bad times is why our relationship is so strong, you have a front row seat to all my crazy but instead of walking away, you simply grab the popcorn and watch it unfold.
I wish I would’ve explained why I look forward to all the boring and mundane moments of life with you. You are my best friend, and there’s no one I’d rather fall asleep on the couch with. There’s no one I’d rather be elbow deep in diaper changes with then you. I want to grow old together. I wish I could’ve detailed my reasons for my Valentines gift this year with better clarity. I bought us the flower beds and seeds because I want to grow together. I want our relationship to blossom and thrive as we nourish it. You are important to me and I want to tend our garden so our family grows healthy and strong.
Lastly I want to talk to you about change. I love the man I first fell in love with, and I love the man you’ve become. We’ve both grown in so many different ways and it’s unfair to fantasize about the good old days of who we used to be. You love me for me and I love you for you and that’s all that matters. When I died my hair pink without telling you, you didn’t hesitate to tell me I looked beautiful. When I spoke out about women’s rights and the feminist movement, you got right behind me as my own personal cheerleader. And when we both knew how hard Motherhood was for me, you didn’t hesitate to support me in seeking the help I needed. You are my best friend and the only one I want to spend my happily ever after with. I want us to keep changing, growing, and finding ourselves as we continue our relationship for years to come.
Mr. Ames you are my forever Valentine. Thank you for the life we’ve built together and giving me two wonderful and crazy children. I love our little Ames Wolfpack and look forward to all the grand adventures that are in store for us!
Sincerely,
your forever Valentine
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