I Couldn't Have Known

10 years ago today, I stood beside this man and promised to love and cherish him and spend the rest of my life with him.  I knew that I loved him, and he loved me, and I looked forward to our future together.  I couldn't have known what the next 10 years would bring.

I couldn't have known that 10 years later, three of the people that we loved most who were there celebrating our wedding day with us, wouldn't be here now.  I couldn't have known that my dad would die just 6 months after we were married, or that Colin's brother Paul would die in 2006, or my brother Jeff in January of this year.  I couldn't have known that we would both be only children now.  I couldn't have known that we would be directly hit with 4 hurricanes in 3 months time while we were living in Florida, and that we would be without power for a week at a time with each one.  I couldn't have known that we would end up living in New Hampshire for the past 8 years where bad weather followed us in the form of historic ice storms and blizzards and more power outages.  I couldn't have known that 10 years later there would be no children.  That instead, there would be years of infertility and 3 heartbreaking miscarriages in a 14 month period of time.  I couldn't have known that my faith would be tested in every single way possible.  I couldn't have known any of that. But, I came to know THIS-

I came to know that he would be by my side through it all.  I came to know that he loved me more every day.  I came to know that he would do anything to make me happy.  I came to know that he would always put my needs before his own.  I came to know that he would support me in all my hopes and dreams.  I came to know that he loved to make me laugh.  I came to know happiness like I had never known before.  I came to know that he loved to cook (bonus), and that he loved to cook for ME! (double bonus!!)  I came to know that we are a good team and he would help with laundry and housework.  I came to know that I love him more than I ever thought possible.  I came to know that his happiness means more to me than my own.  I came to know that together we can make it through anything.  I came to know that if I would have known 10 years ago what the next 10 years would bring, I would absolutely marry him all over again.

I can't possibly know what the next 10 years will bring, but I know that we will face life's adventures and challenges together.  There is no one I would rather walk through this life with.  Happy 10th anniversary sweetheart!  I love you the absolute infinite mostest!!