Dear Rico, Do you remember the first time you told me you loved me? I remember it just like it was yesterday. You said \u201cI love you\u201d and I was the least impressed by those three words from you at the time. I replied, \u201cDon\u2019t say that because you don\u2019t know what love means.\u201d I\u2019m sure that wasn\u2019t the response you were looking for- I mean all the girls in the Ashley to include \u201cthe pelican\u201d were all sweating you but I wasn\u2019t about to be fooled by your gorgeous caramel skin, glistening eyes, 360 waves, or toned abs. No, not I! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After you gave me a lame definition of love, remember what I did next? I pulled my Bible out of the back seat and read these words to you: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I still remember the look you gave me that night. We laughed, we talked, we shared BUT I still didn\u2019t say, \u201cI love you too.\u201d Think back Rico, how did that make you feel? I guess not too bad because today we celebrate 13 years of marriage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wow! 13 years of marriage…I thought I would have baked you that sweet potato pie Madea used to talk about in those Tyler Perry plays by now lol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No matter where we have gone, God is remained at the center of our relationship. You have helped me to define love in ways I didn\u2019t know that was possible. Sure we know the definition of love is God but love is also an action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The greatest gift you could have I used to believe was the six beautiful children we have raised together but I see things so differently. The greatest gift you gave me was allowing God to be the center of our marriage and taking lead as the head of the house. It\u2019s no secret I\u2019ve been the bread winner but you\u2019ve never let that stop you from loving me the way I deserve. Some men couldn\u2019t love their wives the same because that would make them feel less of a man, but it has never seemed to effect us. We balance each other out perfectly and I am grateful to our God for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I could go down memory lane and talk about the good, the bad, the ugly or whatever but it\u2019s written in our history book and because of all of that we have grown to who we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rico I remember when I was \u201cmad at God\u201d and suffering from a bout of depression. I didn\u2019t want to read my Bible, I didn\u2019t want to go to church, and at times I didn\u2019t even want to listen to gospel music…but you darling, you read the Word to me. You held my hand and prayed with me. You made me get up and go to church. It\u2019s funny because a person who doesn\u2019t know our story would think it\u2019s the other way around because you are \u201cthe thug\u201d or the \u201cconvict\u201d. If only they knew it was the Pastors daughter who went through that season and the \u201cthug\u201d prayed me back to my senses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did I ever tell you thank you? If I didn\u2019t I apologize and I thank you now. Being able to share lives experiences with you has been the cherry on top and I\u2019m looking forward to the next 50+ years together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Picture it: we are both using a walker or in wheelchairs talking trash to one another. I\u2019m reading the Bible while you looking on World Star Hip Hop. I\u2019m fixing dinner while you trying to come get you some sugar (not the one you find in the grocery store). Rico can you imagine us having to feed one another. I\u2019ll probably be skinny if it were left up to you to put a fork in m mouth because all the food would be on my shirt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m thankful that we are leaving a legacy to our children. The legacy I\u2019m referring to is teaching them that God is love. The legacy of worshipping God and serving others. The legacy of faith and hope. The legacy of what it means to endure to the end. The legacy of knowing and developing that personal relationship with God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sure they will know how to cook, clean, play basketball, count money, tie their shoes, read and write; but most importantly they will know that God is their dwelling place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I know this isn\u2019t much of a \u201cmotivational text\u201d but this is my card to you my sweet darling to let you know that I love and adore you. I still get butterflies in my stomach when we are apart and come back together, I still blush every time I see your face, I still fake like I\u2019m asleep just to stay in your strong arms just a little while longer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we wake the kids up for school, get my mom her meds, and experience today\u2019s adventure it is my prayer we will thank the one who brought us together and made it all possible. It is my prayer we will continue to lean on Him and trust His perfect will for our lives and for our marriage. May God bless you richly and provide His strength, wisdom, and health to continue to be the head of our household. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Rico when we finally have that big wedding we never got a chance to have, when the pastor asks if I will be your lawful wedded wife or however it goes, what do you think my answer will be? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I STILL DO! #13YEARSSTRONGANDCOUNTING<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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