Love Letters

Dear Hunter,

We were just stating the other day how fast time has flown. We've experienced 6 years of life together and despite some of the harder times, we cannot wait to see what God has in store for us in the coming years. We can honestly say that our marriage has endured some ups and downs, some turns and twists, but through it all we've kept our focus narrowly on God and on each other.

I love that we can sense the other's feelings or thoughts without ever having to say a word. It's like we're connected in some spiritual sense, a tether attached to both our hearts, creating a link between our emotions. When one is hurting, the other knows almost immediately and is able to respond in such a way that no other person could do so perfectly. Our eyes provide a window into our souls for each other and we use those as guiding lights to assess the other person in various situations. It's amazing how God has created that for us.

 

{circa 2016 - take me back!}

I know I say it daily to you, sometimes multiple times throughout the day, but I truly love you. I love the way you snuggle so sweetly and sleepily in the mornings. I love the way we pick at each other and how it's like we're old friends. I love that cute little toosh of yours. I love the way you can make a friend no matter where you are - you are my social butterfly. I love that kids are instantly drawn to your spirit and truly find you fascinating, personable, and funny (maybe the fact that you're like a giant has them fascinated too). I love your quiet way of taking in things and how you can so easily control your emotions. I love that you're mine.

We try to plan for the future whether it be bills or growing our family, and sometimes things don't work out in the way we would like. But I'm so grateful to be making plans alongside you. The complex and harsh details of being an adult are softened and eased because we navigate them together. I wholeheartedly believe that each morning our feet touch the ground, the devil is saying something along the lines of, "Crap, they're awake." We've been told that the devil doesn't like marriage and will do what he can to destroy it. He's tried, I'll give him credit for that. But his attempts to undermine the beauty of all that our marriage reflects and stands for are futile and laughable.

We're a team, boyfriend. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Always yours,

Kel
 



Letters to Hunter + half a {decade} of LOVE

My sweet Hunter,

 

Tomorrow we will celebrate 2 years of wedded bliss that have been thoroughly enjoyed. We'll celebrate our laughs shared over the past 5.5 years, our memories that we've created and treasured for our sustenance, and we'll embrace the beauty that is another day in our lives. We always comment how our time together has felt so quick and gone-in-a-minute. Yet, we feel like we've been side by side for eons.

 

Over the last half decade we've shared grief in loss of family members and friends. We've learned how the other grieves, mourns, recovers. In the last few years I watched you handle your mom going through chemo, the prayers we prayed together {and that we're still praying}, the hope we've held out on. We know that God is always good. I'll forever remember the first time you saw your mom without hair - the way you embraced her and loved on her. That's just one of the many ways I saw your soul shine through.

 

We've learned how to agree to disagree on various things; how to fight {if you even want to call it that} fairly; the patience that goes into loving each other's flaws every day. You've learned that I'm not the happiest of humans when I'm hangry {it's a real epidemic, ya'll} and I've discovered how stress can affect your mood. But we wrestle through those areas and come out on the other side, hands held tight to each other.

 

Hunter, I wouldn't want anybody else by my side to do this thing called life. Life is hard, ugly, mean, cold; but you make it soft, beautiful, kind, and warm. My days are filled with laughter and joy because of the care that you show me. You remind me that it's OKAY to sit and not fret over the piles of laundry growing, or the dust bunnies in the corner of the room. Other times you buy into my madness and utterly surprise me with your small gestures of helping me with things around the house. You know my love language like the back of your hand.

 

And I know your love language - Words of Affirmation. Boy, your heart soars and thrives on kind words, uplifting phrases, sentences that make your heart go pitter patter. I'm here to tell you now and every day - I love you Hunter. Thank you for leading me in all the many ways. Thank you for always striving to be better, do better, love deeper, grow in life. You are one hell of a man, husband, son, brother, brother-in-law, son-in-law, and one day, father. You are such a blessing in my life and many others. I truly cannot and will not imagine doing life without you.

 

I've loved you from the beginning, always have and always will. My heart is yours forever, gentle giant.

 



Letters to Hunter

 

Huntman,

 

Oh how is it that we will have been married for 2 years next month? I'm pretty sure the world has started spinning faster since we first met each other. Our awkward first moments are long since past and we're quite the 2 peas in a pod duo. We more times than not know what the other is thinking without a word ever being said. I'm still always amazed at how well you can read me - my eyes give me away every time.

 

This marriage stuff has been fun but people don't tell you about the real marriage stuff. Like how we have to make hard, scary decisions together and hope that they work out. Or how all our little quirks can really drive us closer to each other. Or they way we just lay and giggle over the stupidest things until we can't laugh anymore. Sometimes, the real marriage stuff is holding the garbage bag open while the other scoops dog poop up. It's the little things.

 

We balance each other out so well - when one is the dreamer, the other is the realist. When one is moody, the other grounds. When one is feeling far from God, the other reels them back in. And we always rotate our positions, like fluid dancers on the floor of life. Moving, shaking to the beat of the drums. I don't think you'll ever truly realize how much I cherish your friendship, Hunter. The fact that we are the best of friends with each other is the driving force behind my love for you.

 

We're on a journey and I'm eager to walk beside you. I'm not sure how everything will end but I know one thing for sure - you will be there in the end. Your strong guidance leading us down into the dark valleys until we come out on the other side where the light is so bright that we will have to squint to see. And when our eyes focus on what's in front of us, we will know that this journey was done hand-in-hand.

 

I'll love you forever, my gentle giant,

 

K

Letters to Hunter

 

Dearest Hunter,

 

Let's not talk about how it's already almost August. Or that my 28th birthday came and went in the blink of an eye. As I've said lately, 28 and 29 are my fluff years; 30 will need to go out with a bang. How can I possibly be 30 in 2 years? I still feel like I'm 16 years old!

 

Life's been pretty hectic lately. We've had a lot thrown at us - some good, some great, some we could live without - but no matter what, we keep our eyes on the Prize and each other. I had a friend say to me recently, "How do you manage to keep your head on straight with all that you're dealing with right now?!" My answer: Prayer and coffee. Lots of coffee.

 

In the midst of all the chaos, we've seen God's mercies and grace and His deep-seated love for us. I love that when we wake in the mornings, we wake with a purpose and to make the most of that day. I really hope that when our feet hit solid ground in the mornings, the devil is saying, "Damn! They're awake." It's the little things that keep us going - ice cream runs after dinner; staying up late to watch movies; working through bible studies together, and challenging each other to dig deeper in those thoughts; laughing until our sides are splitting at the stupidest things.

 

Hunter, I love you truly and madly and more than words can say. You complete my life - without your calm, steady, level-headed self, I'm a wrecking ball taking out those around me. I love your gentleness and truthfulness. I love that we can agree to disagree on different things and that we never attack each other. I love how you love me - passionately, sweetly, without end. I love that you're mine.

 

Weathering these storms with you daily,

 

Kel

Love letters + Life Before Marriage

 

My sweet and gentle giant,

 

We always comment on the speed of time - how it passes us by so quickly. What they say is so true. Time flies when you're having fun. So if that old adage is true, then we must be having buckets and buckets of fun!

 

I've been learning the in's and out's of being your wife and helpmate. How it's okay to lead and carry you at times, because honestly, it's too much to carry the weight of it all, all the time, by yourself. So God has been showing me how to be the best helpmate I can be, and how to be proud of it.

 

We've watched our spiritual walks slowly grow but we know that it'll never stop. And I LOVE that we seek Him together. Maybe that's why time has been flying by for us... We've found so much joy in seeking Him again, together. Let's never stop seeking Him together, or each other. I love you madly and truly, Hunter.

 

Always your faithful helpmate,

 

Kels

 

 

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I'm guest posting over on Leelee Finds Herself blog today. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

Letters to Hunter

These letters are snippets into our lives and treasures that I can hold onto dearly as we grow old.

 

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Hunter,

 

My my, it's been a whirlwind of 2016 already! It's hard to believe that February will be here soon. With February, it brings Valentine's Day, the halfway mark for my busy season of work, the start of your busy season of work (shoot, it's been busy since day one), and another month of life together.

 

We realized the other day that we're coming up on 5 years together. The longest relationship for both of us, and yet, the absolute best relationship. I love how we consider to be each of the other's best friend. I thrive on our comfortable, easy-going, let-your-hair-down relationship that we have. Knowing that I can trust you with the darkest parts of my heart is liberating.

 

Thank you for lovingly leading us through this time. It hasn't been easy because we have both somehow individually and together fallen off the grid with God. We have somehow allowed life to step in, make it's nest in every nook and cranny. We've realized that these lofty nests of this life aren't welcome anymore; thus, we've begun spring cleaning a little early.

 

I thank God daily for you. For your heart and passion to love Him so deeply. Because of your love for Him, it makes experiencing the dirtiness of life just a bit brighter. It makes coming out of our dusty nooks and crannies that much easier to seek His face and glory. I love that we are repairing our spiritual walks with Him separately, yet together, like the team we are.

 

We are one hell of a team.

 

Always your partner-in-crime,

 

K

Letters to Hunter

This letter is part of a link-up with the beautiful Mrs. Amber. These letters are snippets into our lives and treasures that I can hold onto dearly as we grow old.

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Dear Hunter,

Lately it feels like each day slips by like sand beneath the waves. We run from home to work, to home, to cook, to clean, now to school and homework, to youth and church, to doing life. It's a non-stop go-go-go pace that some days I embrace and can't get enough of; other days I question the purpose of the never-ending chaos of life.

One thing we've learned in all the madness is to make time for us. Time to allow us just to be the 2 of us, to slow down and soak each other's presence in. It's those glorious moments that I love just being with you and watching God work through you, and in you, and beside you. Those brief moments in our crazy days remind me why I thank God every day for your friendship, love, and trust.

After 4 years of being together and almost 1 year of marriage, I've only just begun to scratch the surface at one thing: discovering the ways you look at me. You look at me with pride because I'm yours; you look at me with humor because I tend to make you laugh quite a bit; you look at me with fondness because I know your heart's secrets, and you can trust that I will protect them with my very life; and you look at me with an unwavering, profound love that makes me feel all the giddy feels.

Thank you, God, for blessing me with a man that looks at me the way he does. I'm a better woman because of you, Hunter.

Always yours,

Kelly

Letters to Hunter

This letter is part of a link-up with the beautiful Mrs. Amber. These letters are snippets into our lives and treasures that I can hold onto dearly as we grow old.

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Dear Hunter,

I know you'll agree with me when I say, "What a crazy, whirlwind of several months it has been!" And I think you'll also agree with me that it's only just beginning. As crazy as our days have been, having you by my side through it all has been rewarding and satisfying. Rewarding because I know I'm not in this alone; satisfying because you won't let me do it alone.

We've been fortunate (or just finally figured out how to manage time) lately to have been able to slow down and breathe. Sleeping in late on Saturday's, swimming lazily in the pool, and random trips to pick up ice cream and a Redbox movie has become a bit of the norm. Through it all - busy and slow - I've been witness to some of your greatest strengths. And they always amaze me.

Your ability to remain calm during the storm is absolutely contagious for a gal like me who tends to be somewhat of a tornado, leaving a trail of devastation and messes to clean up later. Your steadiness is a stronghold for me to lean into, onto, and against. In my wildest moments, I always turn to you because you're my voice of reason; my better half; the creamy peanut butter to my wild berry jelly.

We always joke that you're the Type B to my Type A - we complete each other. When I'm stressing over the most minuscule detail of God-knows-what, you're quick to show me the bigger picture. That in the grand scheme of things, sometimes those little details just don't matter.

Thank you for being the steady foundation in our marriage, our friendship, and as my lover. God knew what He was doing when he lumped us together.

Always yours,

Kelly