To have and to hold, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health…
and a global pandemic?!
I have to admit that when we stood there and said our vows all those years ago that I never thought we’d be walking hand in hand through a global pandemic, but here we are. We are learning every day how to be better partners and parents as we navigate through toilet paper shortages, cancelled family vacations, changes in our jobs that add additional stress, and so much more. Despite the hardship that is the year 2020, I’ve never loved and appreciated you more.
Through the struggles, I’ve realized how much I made the absolute right choice in marrying you. We’ve grown closer through our long talks about how we are viewing our world differently and what we want for our children’s futures. You’ve held me up when I wasn’t sure I could face another day of bad news or uncertainty, and you’ve helped me focus on what we can control instead of what we cannot. When I’m feeling scared or worried, you never cease to help me remember all of our incredible blessings.
Together we have learned to be strong as a couple. We are doing the hard things every day, learning to adapt well beyond what we thought were our comfort zones. We are learning to give more grace and empathy, but also truly understanding what is most important in life. Growing in these ways together has given me a new perspective on our marriage; we didn’t just say those vows but we are living them every day. It’s not easy and we are not perfect, but I’m also so incredibly proud of us.
I know eventually this pandemic will end and we will slowly go back to the lives we had before, but my heart will never forget the love you’ve shown our family during this difficult season. You have been the rock that kept us steady with our eyes looking ahead and I want you to know that your strength is so valued.
Someday we will explain this year to our kids and grandkids when they are old enough to understand. I know we will recall the political divide, the face masks, the school shut-downs, and the difficulty to get toilet paper/disinfectant wipes/canned pumpkin at the grocery store. But more than anything, I’ll look forward to telling them about our great love story during this time. Thank you for loving me through the times I’ve been sick, the times I’ve been “worse”, and most definitely now through a global pandemic.
