To my husband,

Three years ago today I walked down the aisle, reached for the hand of my best friend and promised to love and honor you. I pledged my faithfulness to you for all of our days. It is easy to gush with joy and love on your wedding day...but where are we three years out?

Still happy! Sure, our marriage isn't perfect - I don't believe there is such a thing. But you still make me happy. I still look forward to when you come home from work, to an unexpected embrace or an "I Love You" message during the day. There is such joy in watching the determination with which you take care of your family - whether it is while clearing off the driveway in a snow storm or spending hours balancing the checkbook - I know you do these things not just "because they need to be done," but because you care for me. Although we share family responsibilities, I know - without a doubt - how you aim to be my protector, my cheerleader, my provider, my friend and more. So even when life throws us curve balls - during the times when we just can't protect, cheer, provide....I know how much you want to - and during those times - that's enough.

I never imagined three years ago that we'd go from a family of three to a family of five in such a short amount of time - but look how magnificant it is! Although it is hard to find US sometimes through the chaos of diapers, sleep deprivation, tantrums and busy schedules - it is all worth it. I never love you more than when I see you with our children. Maybe you are patiently helping with math homework or teaching a guitar chord....perhaps it is the simple act of giving our toddler a bath, or seeing a tear in your eye while you are holding the baby.....it is beautiful and it makes my heart swell to know that you are mine.

With each anniversary, as I'm reminded of all of the reasons I said yes to you... it motivates me to be a better wife. I fall short of this - a lot....and so I thank you for loving me despite my MANY shortcomings.

The third anniversary is the "leather anniversary" - spicy! ha. Rather than trying to come up with a good "leather" gift for you...I thought a better gift would be dinner...alone...no kids! So tonight...after work...I've arranged for someone to watch the kids...and we will have dinner....just the two of us!

I'd also like to remember - this anniversary and all those to come - the wisdom God gives us for our marriage - the same Scripture used at our wedding ceremony.

Ephes. 3:14-19 (NLT)
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Eccles. 4:9-12 (NLT)
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I love you, Mark!

Jodi