The first time my husband went to kiss me, I pulled away.

The first time my husband went to kiss me, I pulled away. Not because I didn't want to ... I did ... but because I could already feel, in that specific soul level way, that he was going to matter. I wanted to hold the moment still for just a second before it became a memory. When I was ready, he kissed me.

He stopped in the middle of it to ask if I thought I was beautiful. And then he said: "I asked because I don't see how it's possible to not see that. It's so apparent. It doesn't need any consideration. And I don't mean just looks."

I was done for. I just didn't know it yet.

The first time he called me baby, it slipped out, and he immediately tried to cover it by calling me dude. And that is how baby-dude became a term of endearment that I will carry to my grave.

The first time he held my hand in public... just grabbed it in a mall parking lot on the way to get wine ice cream and didn't let go until we got back to the car ... I felt unbeatable.

The first time he met Aub, I told him upfront: we're a package deal. If she doesn't approve, we don't work. He fell on his actual butt racing her through wet grass. She approved.

He is the reason Aub knows what it looks like when a man treats a woman well. The way he treats me is the way I pray for someone to treat her someday.

The women in my family believe with their whole hearts that he was sent to Aub and me by my grandmother, who passed in 2016. I believe it too. I know she would have loved the way this man loves and cares for us.

I prayed for this. I manifested it. I whispered it to the universe on the nights when it felt impossible. I asked for someone good ... just genuinely, simply, good ... and somehow he showed up in an olive green t-shirt smelling like lumber and said baby dude by accident and fell in the grass with my kid.

Four years married. Eight years together. I found the person who makes my heart smile. ♥

Happy anniversary, baby dude. Thank you for being my peace. Thank you for your grace.