Dear Corinn,
Today is our 13th anniversary.
We made it. Seems like we say that every year!
Thank you for agreeing to marry me in 2000. Frankly, getting hitched in that year makes it a lot easier to remember which anniversary we’re celebrating.
I don’t know if you’re excited about me sharing this letter — something so personal — with the world, but I feel it’s okay because there’re a few things I can mention that might help others. In addition, I’m watching the World Series and my mind can’t focus on church marketing types of things.
Anyway…
Remember when we first met? It was a blind date. I was fashionably late. You were hot! When you ordered dinner you separated your food and made sure nothing on your plate touched. That was interesting!
I was that crazy stay-out-all-night party guy who’d only graduated a few months before. You were that beautiful independent fundamental Baptist girl. (What’s the saying about oil and water?)
For some reason, we hit it off.
I often tell people that you provided me the stability I needed, and I provided you the exciting life you desperately needed.
Truth is: I believe you saved my life.
I thought I knew Christ. I really did. But I didn’t really know Him until you introduced me. And you did it in the best way possible — you simply lived life. I saw that you had something going with God, a relationship that I wanted.
And when I had questions, you provided answers and gave me the resources and guidance to learn for myself. When I questioned my spirituality, you were gentle in your approach. You never said I was wrong. You simply held tight to the Truth, shared it with me, and let me fumble around until it finally clicked.
I remember the day that I rededicated my life to Christ. We were dating and I was in church with you and your friends.
Later, I knew you were the one for me when you accepted my marriage proposal at the base of the Stan Musial statue.
That was SO COOL!
During our wedding, the pastor encouraged us to grow together toward Christ.
I think we’ve done that. And I think our boys see something in us.
And speaking of our boys, have you noticed that we’ve never really rested in these 13 years?
Each year has brought something major — a child, a new home, a job change, a move, transmission problems, that whole baseball card phase I went through, and some exhausting trips to Disney World. And at each step, you’re there offering stability when my mind is whirling.
You’re an incredible mom, the best wife, and, hands down, you make the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had. Ever.
Our marriage has been an adventure. Sometimes it resembles a certain early ’80s Chevy Chase movie, but I’m so glad I’m on this trek with you — even that year and a half we lived with your mom. That was sure fun, wasn’t it?
Thank you for loving me and laughing with me.
Happy anniversary, babe.
I love you.
GO CARDS!
Eric