I Choose You

 Like most little girls, I adored fairy tale romances. I dreamed of the day that I would meet my handsome prince who would carry me away to his castle and we would live happily ever after.  I whole-heartedly embraced the notion that I would "fall in love" with the man of my dreams and everything would simply fall into place for the rest of our lives.  I was also sure that in the midst of this there would be a well-placed musical number complete with a montage of our most romantic moments thus far.  And so I waited for him to arrive... 

My "once upon a time" began on my first date with David.  We met while in college.  He had been nominated for Homecoming King and several of the girls in my dorm, including me, were hoping to be his date for the dance.  I was so excited when he asked me!  I literally ran from room to room telling all the girls on my floor that he picked me.  Although he did not win the crown, we had a wonderful evening together.  I could feel myself "falling" for him.

Nine days later he proposed to me.  Crazy?  Crazy that he asked or crazy that I accepted?  We barely knew each other, came from very different backgrounds, and we were incredibly young.  We didn't have anything but each other.  We realized very quickly that we were better together than we were alone, and so we set a wedding date for seven months later.



Young love



The happy couple














A kiss for luck & we're on our way...



The wedding was beautiful and after stealing away for a week-long honeymoon, we set out to pursue our "happily ever after."  My prince didn't exactly have a castle.  Instead we lived in a tiny one-bedroom apartment in an on-campus married student housing complex.  No servants or woodland creatures that could sing ever showed up.  We spent our days going to class and working to make ends meet.  There wasn't much arguing because we were never together long enough to start one!  Being in love was wonderful, but kinda hard work. 

It was in the first few months of wedded bliss that I learned something very important.  Love is a choice.  Doesn't sound nearly as romantic as the fairy tales promised, but it is the truth.  Every day when I wake up I am met with this very decision- Will I love him today?  I can honestly say that I have said "yes" to that question every day for the past 22 years that we have been together; however, some days are easier than others.  And I'm sure he would say the same for me.  I'm not always that loveable. 

Over the years I have received many wonderful gifts on Valentine's Day.  Flowers, candy, romantic dinners, weekend get-aways.  I've even been serenaded by a barbershop quartet.  But the greatest gift I could ever receive is being able to do life every day with my sweetheart.  Each day is full of choices, some easy and some not-so-easy. Today, as we continue on in this journey of "happily ever after," I say again to this amazing husband, father, and man of God who holds my heart,  I choose you!