Dear Jon,

Fifteen years ago tomorrow there was a wedding.

Do you remember?

In the days leading up to our wedding, I thought it might turn into a funeral. But God worked many miracles, and somehow you recovered enough to stand at the alter for the 20 or so minutes it took for us to exchange vows and rings … and for Megan to teach Julia to snap, although we were blissfully unaware that was taking place on the front row.

Since that day, we have lived a lot of life.. We’ve been up and down and around so many times it’s a wonder I’m not dizzy and begging to get off the ride! Yet the only thing I’m sure of is that I married the right guy. For that, I’m beyond grateful.

I love you, Jon Hamilton! I’m so very glad you lived and married me and that we’ve been together for all the ups and downs of life. As we cheer to the next 15 years, let’s look back and remember the last 15 years we’ve experienced together.

Love,

Here’s to that Christmas BEFORE the wedding … the one we spent in the hospital, thinking you might die. A week later, we promised “in sickness and in health” and the audience laughed. We did too, thinking we had sickness behind us. Alas, no one knew what was yet to come! You are a walking miracle!

Maddie and Megan visiting and opening their presents on your hospital bed.

For a while, I thought we might just live in hospitals. For the first four months or so, it seemed we went from one hospital to the next, running test after test after test. We felt like it would never end, but then late one April night the doctors in New Orleans sent us home and then, in practically an instant, life returned to normal.

Well, maybe not normal … but thankfully more than just staying in various hospitals around the state.

Over the years, we took lots of trips and vacations.

Virginia Beach, Newport News, Jamestown, and Williamsburg.

Galveston

Boston, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York .. in the fall, no less! Happy 10th anniversary to us!

Saints games. You love ’em and I … well, I don’t love them nearly as much. But it’s fun to watch you cheer on the team!

That Christmas we went to San Antonio. Caves and missions and dinner at that Mexican restaurant on the River Walk.

Remember the drive to the top of Pike’s Peak? We screamed all the way up and then all the way down! We both said we would never do that again, but I’d go with you anywhere … even back up to the top of Pike’s Peak.

Do you remember how long you drove that Kia? I remember. It was 13 years. You said you told God you would drive that car until the doors fell off … and then one by one the door handles all broke off and had to be replaced! Don’t tell me that God doesn’t have a sense of humor!

But He also gives such wonderful gifts and He gave you a truck, paid for in full. You were so proud when we left the dealership that day.

Speaking of gifts … one year we gave each other gas logs for our fireplace. We sure have enjoyed those longs on many cold mornings and evenings!

The years have flown by … and I have so many images stuck in my head of the life we’ve lived together.

Like laundry … for years we did so much laundry! But you even made that fun with your folding parties!

The times you cooked, like our Christmas meal in December 2020 when I was so sick with Covid I could barely lift my head. Then I heard a commotion coming from the kitchen and lots of laughing. So I staggered in to find you cooking in costume. You brightened everyone’s spirits with your antics!

From yard work (esp. that season when we pretended to be Monty Don and built our own fire pit) and to house chores that cost us an arm and a leg at Lowes …

From voting together in every single election (thanks to Joel) to getting new jobs (thanks to God) …

From caring for foster kids to attending so many high school and college graduations …

From coffee dates to delivering me flowers at school and making me feel like the most loved wife in the world …

Here’s to us and a fabulous fifteen years of life together!

I’m grateful I found my one safe soul.