Lucky Number 13

Notice anything in my sidebar? *wink wink* Check out the "about me" part of my profile... one tiny detail has changed. See it??!!

Yup, no more dozen.

We're up one... to lucky number 13.

When i married Neil, i can't say that i ever wondered what our future 13 years from that date would look like.

i was obsessed with our present. Being a new wife, momma - starting my new career, seemed to be the end... "and they lived happily ever after..."

Maybe i sorta figured i'd always have my teenager husband with his ribs sticking out...

i didn't really picture him with little greys starting to peek through - & his hands sprinkled with scars from working hard - & teeny laugh lines starting to form around his eyes.

i didn't know he would eventually trade his beloved work clothes for dress shirts.

i didn't know he would trade hours, months, years of hard work for a confident love of his job & his ability to do it well.

i didn't know he would remain so devilishly handsome throughout the next 13 years - & that i'd maybe even think he was more dapper than ever in the spring of '09. *hehe*

i probably believed that *this* was as deep as love can get.

His hazel eyes would lock on mine & i'd get that feeling - deep in my stomach - that he loved me... & that there was no more perfect place in this world than in his presence.

But now, 13 years have passed.

Would you believe me if i said that he still makes my stomach turn upside down when he enters a room?

Joy, tension, laughter, reconciliation, moments of tenderness, grief, humour, silence, sorrow, turbulance, tears, racket, kindness, protection - these things have all been a part of our last 13 years.

& oh, the love that has grown from them. The stretching without tearing - the bending without breaking - the sacrifice without bitterness.

o the love.

The shared memories make us stronger.

We were talking this morning about our wedding day & Neil said, 'i can hardly remember back that far...' & i found that it was true for me too... Seems so long ago all of a sudden. So in honour of our anniversary & the fact that neither one of us can remember what we did last week let alone 13 years ago, i give you:

13 recent small sweetnesses for 13 years of bliss -

* Strawberries & cream in bed - Gage woke up & stole most of them... but that just adds to the sweetness - teeny birdie with sweet open mouth...

* Flowers on my kitchen counter this morning.

* An invitation to 'come be with me' in the office...

* Rollerblading on Sunday afternoon... (in case you're wondering about my scabbed elbow & bruised hand... hehe)

* Coffee brewed this morning

* Supper plans tonight

* our famously short emails: paige: i.love.you. neil: and me you.

* He kept trying to hold my hand on Sunday.

* i let him.

* He only made fun of me once when i ate a whole bunch of jalopenos & made myself sick this week.

* He got his haircut for our date tonight.

* i gave him a haircut.

* He told me he loves my love of work. 'S a funny compliment - but it's so Neil.

& so, at this moment - 13 years in - (i joked to my sister that we're at our 'half marathon' mark). i am so grateful for my good man - this sweet marriage - this beautiful family.

What a gift.