Dedicated to My Husband Shaun

In a few days I will celebrate being married to this wonderful man.

For 15 Years.

I am amazed sometimes.

One - for how long that sounds, but doesn't feel.

And two - that we've made it.

We have made it when we shouldn't have.

We have made it when at times one, or both, of us has wanted to call it quits. We have made it when the statistics of married restaurant managers say we shouldn't have. We have made it when the statistics of being parents to a child with a disability and staying married say we shouldn't still be. When stress like moving, changing jobs, and economic turmoil says we should have been done, and we're not. When you marry someone after only dating for 2 months, you shouldn't STILL be 15 years later.

But we are.

And NOW, we understand how all those things have strengthened us. How all those things make us who we are. How fighting through all those things have made us fight for this. Because NOW, we get it. NOW we are married. Committed, self-less, loving and strong. We feel great and thrilled to be celebrating this mark. Because this mark is more than 15 years. It marks us making it. Surviving it. Growing from it. And loving it! THIS is married. THIS is worth all we went through. Those eyes and that smile and this love has been worth it all.

We have had many wonderful times along the way, don't get me wrong. I am just being honest. This isn't "Fakebook". Our marriage has gone through a lot, but we worked at it. And now we are enjoying it so much more than we ever have. Because we see each other with new eyes. Eyes that are looking at each other, and not what the world tells us we "should" have, or how it's "supposed to be". We both see each other with loving eyes, that have have seen it all, and still love, without a doubt.

I don't know his take on all this, but I know he loves me. He thinks I am talented and beautiful even - and especially- when I don't. He encourages and supports, and listens to me.

And he is a great dad.

This man - Who encourages me, and our children, and prays over all our lives.

For us to feel loved, cherished and valued.

For us to have opportunities to grow and to be sure of who, and how wonderful, we are.

And for us to experience as much as life has to offer.

This man - Who will always hold the hands of those put in his care.

To guide them, lead them and to look out for them.

Who takes honor in being the person to provide for his family.

Who is proud of who we are.

Who sees the potential in each of us.

This man - who was asked to care for someone none of us expected.

A boy who needed a kind of love that was blind to expectations and conditions.

Whose love is of purity and honor.

A love of respect that recognizes the gift in the blessings of this child.

This man - who either literally or figuratively, carries us all.

Through the rocky times or the calm breezes.

His love - loves.

Happy 15th Anniversary to my dear husband Shaun. Who has blessed my life, and continues to each and every day. Thank you. For respecting me, honoring me and loving me. And for these beautiful children. I don't know what is in store for us next, but I glad we are doing it together.

I love you.