Still the One

As I was uploading pictures from Halloween, I found this picture that I copied from my dad's computer quite a while ago. It is the only one we have digitally from our wedding 14 years ago. I was going to save it for my anniversary post next month.

Then I came across the picture that Noah took of us last month while we were picking apples.

It really made me think about all that we have been through in 14 years.

It's been in my mind even more prominently as a result of Noah's field trip last week. We went to the nature center that was Steve's and my get away place when we were in college. We spent MANY weekends up there just walking the trails and we snuck across railroad tracks that weren't supposed to be public areas and found a really neat wooden walkway and look out onto the river. It became a very special place for us.

Right after we got engaged, it became clear that I was not going to be an accepted part of Steve's family. Although that battle has ebbed and flowed, it was a huge shock to Steve and a huge sadness to me at the time. I remember very specifically the day it all came to a head. Steve's dad had written him a very painful note about how much I was not going to be accepted. Steve drove me out to our special place at the nature center before he read the note to me. We cried and dealt with it there at our special place.

So when I took Noah's class there on Friday, it seemed so strange that it has come so full circle.

When we were engaged, especially since it seemed at the time that we were fighting the odds, our SONG had become Shania Twain's "You're Still the One".

I heard the song the other day on the radio for the first time in a VERY long time. Believe it or not, I started crying. HARD. And for a long time.

You see, we've faced a lot of ups and downs in our 16 years together (14 of them married), as all married couples do. And one of the biggest struggles has been VERY recently.

And although both of us have fought difficult emotions at times, I know for a fact that both of us still believe the same thing...

You're Still The One.

I love you Honey and I am still thankful every day for you and the beautiful family that we've created.

You are most definitely still THE ONE.