11 Years Later

And here we are.

11 years ago, I made a promise before family, friends, and God, to stay true to the love of my life, no matter what. Part of that oath has become a cliche in our culture: "For better or for worse." In our 11 years together, we have been blessed to experience a lot of better. In the last few months we have endured some of the worst.

Steph, my love. Times have been tough, and right now for us, the future is as uncertain as anything we have ever faced together. We have friends who have supported us. We have enemies who would love to see us fail. But in reality, the people who have put us in this position genuinely don't care one way or the other.

But none of that matters. Friends, enemies, or indifferent, nothing and no one has changed the love which we share and which we know will carry us through this and all other obstacles in our path. What we have is bigger than anything life can throw at us.

And recently, as seemingly all other aspects of my life steadily unraveled around me, I still always knew that your loving arms awaited me at the end of that day's road. And I know that even if the next chapters of my life involve food service or food stamps...I know that our love is enobling and will help me walk a potentially humiliating road with dignity.

For despite our financial situation, our love makes us rich, richer than any I know. And in spite of all that has happened...I would not trade the road that God has set out for us for any other road. Because only on this road will I find you, and only on this road will we walk together.

I have loved the first 11 years together. I can't wait to see what happens next. Meet you back here, same time next year. The story is just getting interesting.

Matt