For you, on our third anniversary

Happy anniversary to you, my love. 

As you know, it’s our third wedding anniversary, and also our second one apart. We have the military to thank for that. 

We also have the military to thank for our short engagement, and our intimate wedding. Wasn’t that an unbelievable day? We rambled around Fort Collins, in gardens and breweries and outdoor patios, through cozy downtown streets and along river trails. 

Of course, I don’t have to remind you of these things, because you always remember every detail. You view the world through rose-colored glasses and you live in the moment. 

That’s what I admire most about you – your unrelenting ability to just fully be in the moments of life. Sometimes, when my thoughts drift, I look at you. I see that you’re fully immersed in each millisecond. You remind me to let go and sink in. 

Letting go and sinking in is something I’ve been working on a lot lately. 

I practiced it last summer, when you were deployed and I so badly wanted to speed up time. I practiced it during the six months you were home, when I so badly wanted to slow down time. And here I am, continuing my practice of sinking in when you’re gone again. 

You vowed three years ago today to be my rock, and in many ways you are. Even in our times apart, you’ve held steady. 

You’ve supported me and kept me calm. You’ve sent endless amounts of love through phone calls and Facetime. You’ve encouraged me to carry on and enjoy every moment. 

I’ll keep working on that. 

But right now, I can’t help but wish for time to speed up – especially on a day as special as this. 

I’m already looking forward to our fourth wedding anniversary. Not only will we spend that one together, but we’ll also be at the beginning our next big adventure. It’s funny that we’ll have the military to thank for that one, too.