We {Still} Do

Dear Mr., 

 Happy 10. 10 years of amazingness. 10 years of love, joy, and fun. 10 years of crazy times. At the risk of sounding like an old lady, time flies. Wow, does time fly.

 ~TEN~ 

 10 years ago we spent time at our "bachelor" and "bachelorette" parties. You doing god-knows-what at a strip club, and me getting crazy with my favorite girls. The week following was spent decorating, celebrating, and cooling off at the Glendive pool. It was hot in Glendive that time of year. 10 years ago you stood at the alter in Makoshika, holding little Colton's hand, and waiting for me to join you. You stood there in your white tux with beads of sweat forming on your forehead in that hot Eastern MT sun. I still remember your face, so young and fresh, waiting for me. 10 years ago I stood next to you and sobbed as I read my vows. A girl who rarely cried, especially out of joy, and I stood there sobbing, barely able to say the words that meant so much to me. 10 years ago we danced all night long at the Elks Lodge, with all of our closest friends and family. We watched as our family got crazy on the dance floor, air guitars and all. We shared happy memories with the people that know us best, and held hands through the night. 10 years ago we hopped in a car and drove to our hotel suite at the "Comfort Inn." You pulled out the 5,679 bobby pins from my pretty hair as I sat in the jacuzzi tub. 10 years ago we sat in the basement of the public library with those closest to us and opened the gifts they shared with us. Many smiles, laughs, and tears were shared as we read the special words people had to say, and saw the time people had put into their gifts. We couldn't believe how thoughtful our friends and family were. I still remember where we got each and every gift, and I still have every wedding card. 10 years ago we loaded on an airplane and headed to Alaska for our honeymoon. With wedding money in hand, we drove up and down that state, staying at little lodges and fishing for salmon. Just the two of us, we galavanted around that beautiful state, enjoying every minute. 10 years ago we started our life together. We drove to MI and moved everything we had to start our life.

 ~NINE~

 9 years ago we had just survived our first year of marriage. We had just survived a move across the country where we had no friends. We had just survived a year of law school and many new changes - most of which we didn't like. 

 ~EIGHT~

 8 years ago we had been through two years of Michigan. Not our favorite place and not our favorite experiences, but we were making it. We spent our weekends at coffee shops studying, and sometimes we would get really crazy and walk to the store for a Swisher Sweet Cigar. We were spending our days in hospitals in Ann Arbor dealing with your eye injury. We went through several emergency room trips, several surgeries, and several months of pain and unemployment. But we made it. We came out winning. 

~SEVEN~

 7 years ago we were looking forward to finishing our time in Michigan and moving to Spokane, WA. We couldn't wait to get out of there. We packed up our first baby, Pugsly, and everything we owned, in a MI snowstorm. We carried TV's and beds in a blizzard, just the two of us. We packed elk horns on a jet ski and headed West. 

~SIX~ 

 6 years ago we were expecting our first baby. We had moved into our new "fixer-upper" home and spent countless hours completely gutting it so it was ready for our family. We used family help and our own blood, sweat and tears getting the place liveable. We couldn't wait to meet our little one. 

 ~FIVE~ 

 5 years ago we spent our days chasing a toddler. She consumed our lives with happy times, and we revolved around her. Our marriage stayed strong and we stayed happy. Our little growing family kept us busy, and our jobs were a side note. 

 ~FOUR~ 

 4 years ago we enjoyed time outdoors, getting crazy with our #1 nugget, and traveling. We shared our love in Hawaii and showed T the ocean life.

 ~THREE~ 

 3 years ago we were thinking maybe we should have another baby. We spent the year enjoying our time as a little family and loving life.

 ~TWO~ 

 2 years ago we had just welcomed our new little man. Wow did this throw us for a whirl. We had a tough first few months with this man as we re-learned how to have a newborn. We powered through, always making sure to acknowledge how important our marriage was.

 ~ONE~

 1 year ago we looked at each other in awe as we discussed that next year would be our 10 year. We talked about what we should do to celebrate, and reminisced about the past. We talked about how blessed we are and how lucky we are to have this much marriage under our belt. 

 ~NOW~ 

 Now, we are ten years strong. We have powered through the tough times, and there have been many. Our marriage certainly hasn't been all perfect, but we always come back to the place we need to be. You still give me butterflies and make me laugh. You still call me on my shit, but let me go as far as I need to before calling me. We have grown up together, and learned from each other. And I know it's only the beginning. Happy Ten Baby. I {Still} Do.