Did you know that the traditional first anniversary gift is paper? Yes, paper. So what came first to my mind was - a love letter. Well, you live and breath the internet so my love letter comes in blog-style. (Does that count?)
They say the first year of marriage is often considered the year of adjustment. So true, huh? :-)
When we moved into our apartment on 4th Ave as Husband and Wife last year, we had a vague idea of what married life would be like. But let’s be real, no pre-marriage counseling, stories and helpful advice from parents, pastors and friends, no books, no prayers really prepared us for the journey we embarked on a year from today.
But, no matter what the world threw at us (or what I threw at you), you would look up, your eyes tranquil, secure and shining with warm, undemanding affection and trust. You would put your arms around me, pray with me and just be your beautiful self by reassuring me of your love for me.
You were first a stranger at a bar, then a friend, and now my lover and husband. You saw through my troubled heart and soul, you believed in me. And you, I trust with all my heart to be the one who I want to grow old (and wise) with.
Paul, you are the most amazing person I’ve ever met. You are wise, enthusiastic, you are a dreamer, a believer and a doer. You have an idea and you pursue it until it is done. I love that about you. You are a man of conviction. You stand up for your beliefs. You value commitment. All these wonderful things - and so many more - about you, were the reason why I said “I Do” on the beach in Monterey on May 5th, 2007.
As we celebrate this special 1st wedding anniversary, reflecting on both the delicate and challenging aspects of our marriage and of our love for one another, I want to let you know how much I love you. Your love means the world to me. Your commitment to be my husband is God’s greatest gift for me.
We decided to celebrate our first year of marriage in New York City this past weekend. It was so perfect to get away from work and the rest of the world and just get that quality one-on-one time. It is so important with the hustle and bustle of the world to find time to spend with that special someone in your life. I do appreciate it that you continue to push me to make quality time more of a priority in our hectic lives. So besides declaring my love for you, this is my promise to you for the years to come - to get better at just “having a good time together and relax”.
Please know that when you read this letter-blog in the fifth, tenth or thirtieth year of our marriage, I will love you then as I love you today when our marriage is (only) a full year old.
Love always,
Wiebke
P.S.: By the way, if ‘Paper’ as a traditional gift for the 1st anniversary, you were the perfect husband when you surprised me with tickets (paper!) to the K.T Tunstall show at The Warfield. Hmm. :-)
