June 1st.....14 years later

 Now you will feel no rain, for each of you

will be shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold, for each of you

will be warmth to the other.

Now there is no loneliness for you.

Now you are two persons,

but there is only one life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place,

to enter into the days of your togetherness,

And may your days be good and long together.

--Apache Prayer

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

In September of 1995, my husband's brother got married.  Nick was a best man and I was a bridesmaid.  Our own wedding was still 9 months away, but most of the planning had already been done.

They were married in a beautiful little garden ceremony...surrounded by family and friends and gorgeous flowers and perfect weather.  We stood near the bride and groom...listening to the officiant's words.  At one point, I was glancing down at my flowers when I heard, "Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other."

I looked up.

Then I heard, "Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other."

Nick's eye caught mine and we smiled....

When we picked out our wedding invitations, we found a very simple one that we both loved.  The paper was the same off-white as my dress and had an Apache Prayer printed in small gold letters on the front.  We had never heard of this prayer before.  (Glancing through the Giant Book of Cheesy Invitations was an exercise in patience.....it seemed that every invite was covered in over-played cliches or too-cutesy pictures or bible verses.  And, hello?  Those things are SO not us.)  So I nearly did cartwheels when we found one that seemed to fit us so well and had this simple yet profound inscription.

And now, here we were, listening to the very same prayer being read at this wedding.  I couldn't help but laugh.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

 

Dear Husband,

14 years already?  I'm stunned...amazed...happy...proud.  Can you believe how young we were?  I was only 22 and you were 27.  There was so much I didn't know about marriage...and about life in general.

I didn't know that "for better" would bring us the births of 4 amazingly perfect babies and a sweet little house in the suburbs.

I didn't know that "for worse" would bring us the loss of our fathers and a year-long battle with postpartum depression.

I didn't know that "in sickness" would give us BOTH strep throat on Thanksgiving weekend, thus squashing any and all plans that we had.

I didn't know that "in health" would become more precious every day as we watched some of our family members suffer through illnesses.

I didn't know that "forsaking all others" would be the easiest thing I've ever done....because I only want you by my side.

I didn't know that we would spend many anniversaries at home....surrounded by our little ones.  Changing their diapers, feeding them bottles, drying their tears, giving them baths, and snuggling with their sleepy,  jammie-clad bodies.

I also didn't know that that would be fine with me.

But right now, 14 years later, I do know that I wouldn't change a thing.
You have all of my love...
Miles and miles...
The Wife