To my forever valentine

Dear husband,

I’ll never forget the early years where we laughed and laughed at the things people said we’d fight over. Toilet paper. Toothpaste. Money.

You laughed and left my toilet paper roll on the stand and stuck yours in the window next to the seat. No need to argue over whether it was flipped right-side up or wrong-side down. Problem solved.

I laughed and said I didn’t care if you squeezed the toothpaste tube wrong and set your own tube by your own sink. Squeeze in the middle of the tube to your heart’s content. Problem solved.

We both laughed over the money fighting warning. The hilarity of it made us double over with laughter. We didn’t even have any money to fight over! Problem solved.
But there were other things that came our way that threatened our marriage. Bigger things.

Farming. 

Of course I knew what you did but growing up on a farm wasn’t part of my childhood. Our fun dates on tractors wasn’t an accurate picture of our forever life. Sitting in the field on the hood of the Bronco with our picnic supper spread out watching the sunset wasn’t what every evening would be like.

I didn’t know the long evenings where I wouldn’t see you before I fell asleep or the mornings I’d wake up and you’d be long gone. I didn’t realize during the busy season, I’d feel like a single parent trying to manage a growing family and managing the home. I didn’t realize the overwhelming emotions I’d feel.

  

Finances. 

Of course I knew farmers aren’t rich but I didn’t realize bad farming seasons meant scrounging to make ends meet. Farming as a profession meant our livelihood comes from working your tail off year-round and harvesting in 6-8 weeks praying you can make enough to pay the bills.

 I didn’t realize the stress you’d carry on your shoulders, wanting to provide well for our family and run a successful farm. You work so hard, harder than anyone I know and I don’t tell you enough, but I appreciate you. Your sons want to be just like you. You’re our hero. 💙

Faith. 

We’ve endured so much through the years. Devastation from hurricanes and losing entire crops. The death of a parent. The endless hospital visits and surgeries for our children’s health. All these things created stress that we allowed to affect our marriage. 

What I thought was a strong faith floundered with each of these. We both swung like a pendulum from praising God that it wasn’t worse to pleading with Him to make it better and wondering why it had to happen in the first place.

But through it all, He remained faithful. He never left us. Through the trials and through the triumphs, He was with us. Through the tears and laughter, He was there. He strengthened us. He restored us into something stronger, something more beautiful, something that brings Him glory.

And you. You’ve been a rock for me. Steady. Strong. A gift.

I don’t say it enough, but here’s the truth.
Husband, I love you. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Fifty years from now, I plan on holding your hand and sitting in the back of a truck with a picnic supper watching another sunset with a different love, a stronger love.

So today, on Valentine’s Day, I thought you should know how much I love you and cherish you. You’ll always be my forever valentine. ♥️
#love #forevervalentine