This day, 3 years ago, at 6:43am this man and I were brought together as husband and wife for time and all eternity. Quite the step for me back then, considering at the time I didn?t feel so lucky in love and had made a youthful commitment to never marry again. But I had a feeling something was different about him and this time.
The difference? I had found my best friend. I had found the human being that I could be ME around, 100% of the time?and he still loved me. In fact, after spilling my deepest darkest fears and secrets, this man only loved me more!!! As someone who once searched to say the right thing at the right time to make people in front of me happy, I now (thanks to you, Chris Powell) have NO filter (haha). I have felt what it feels like to be honest and authentic, and have felt what it feels like to be loved for that, and I can never go back.
Chris and I tiptoed around the word love for 6 months after knowing we were in love. Instead, we found a much more fitting and powerful word for how we felt about each other, that we still use to this day. ?I appreciate you SO much,? is what we say. And it?s the doggone truth. I do appreciate the person he is on every level ? far beyond his insane hotness, believe it or not (which I considered a ?con? when I met him!). Chris is a person of honesty, integrity, values, character, humility (SO humble!!!), kindness, hard work, and determination. I knew I?d never find anyone else like him ? he?s one of a kind!
Three years now ? I?m sure we are like babies compared to some! But with so much in our lives, marriage isn?t easy. Marriage isn?t made to be easy and is full of benefits and costs. Thankfully, we see that the benefits of this once-in-a-lifetime union far outweigh the costs. When times get tough for us, we simply remind ourselves of the tattoo on our ring finger (a diamond ring seemed so unpractical to me when we married, especially because we were still living with my parents and making very little $$!). His ring says ?my best friend? in my handwriting, and my ring says ?my best friend? in his handwriting. Reason? Because we have seen marriages come and go, but best friendships like ours are a made for an eternity. It is a reminder that above ALL ELSE, we are BEST FRIENDS – – we ask ourselves, ?how would I treat my best friend in this situation?? Oftentimes, we treat our spouses differently?especially when they nag :-). This helps us put our priorities in order and remember why we appreciate each other so darn much.
Thank you to my best friend for loving the root of who I am. I know without a shadow of a doubt that no matter what happens to my face, body, mind over time ? because we all age ? you will always love and ?appreciate? my soul, and I will yours too. I?m blessed, grateful, lucky, happy, in love?to infinity and beyond.
[slideshow_deploy id=’2404′]
70 Responses
Happy Anniversary to such an amazing couple!! You two are such an inspiration! I hope you never change! ?
Behind every great man is a great woman! You two have contagious smiles! Nice teeth 🙂
I really enjoy reading about you and your family and how you keep to a healthy regimen in spite of all the pressures you guys are under.
Thank you for being so open & honest w/ this blog post! I am 42, single and still hope to share my life with somebody wonderful. I often feel that our society throws the ‘I love you’ around too easy and too often. Needless to say, I really APPRECIATE your expression, ?I appreciate you SO much?. This is a beautiful post and it also provides me with hope that I can still meet the man for me! Michelle~
This is probably my FAVORITE post! You guys are my(and my husband’s) favorite power couple and I loved reading your story! I really appreciate how honest you guys are about life and the way youve dedicated yours to making other’s reach their potential. We don’t have any kids yet(hopefully next year) but we definitely plan on taking your tips to make this fit couple into a fit family. Thanks for your inspiration! -Melynda Stock
You two are amazing! Congrats!
I find your family so inspiring. Congrats on being together for three years! It also makes life much more grand when you have a significant other the “appreciates” you and values you as a person. Having that support system and see you in your greatest of highs and lowest of lows and be there through it all standing by your side to show that support. You and Chris definitely inspire me in health and values! Thank you for sharing!!
Truly inspiring story. I know exactly the feeling you had when you met Chris, it is how I felt when I met my fianc?, but he is the first person I have been able to be myself with and he still loves me, all my crazy quirks and all!! He is my best friend and we have committed to never, ever take each other for granted!! God Bless you both in your lifetime together!
Heidi, this is my one of my many favorite posts on your blog. I love knowing how you guys support each other and that your love grows strong. I would love to receive an autographed book. Unfortunately I’m on a tight budget so I can’t afford to get one. I’ve been eating better and have lost 21lbs in roughly 30 days. I have a pretty screwed up knee so I’m limited on exercise right now. I’m swimming and eating right. Or at least trying to learn to eat right. Your recipes help with this too. Thanks for all you and Chris do, you both are so encouraging. I’d love to be on extreme weightloss but I’m just not sure if I would qualify with my knee injury.
God bless you and all you are doing!
You are lucky to have found your best friend, some search all their lives and never find that bond.