In just a few short weeks, Charlie and I will celebrate 18 years of marriage. How that much time has passed I can’t explain.

If you follow me on Instagram you have probably seen the 18 things I love about my husband in my new my marriage Monday series. If not (and why not??), I thought I should go ahead and share those 18 things on the blog as well.

I do plan to continue dedicating Mondays to my marriage but I won’t always share anything in particular I love about Charlie, but I just want to continue featuring our love story.

I will break it up into three parts for the blog, so make sure you check back next week for the next six things I love about my life partner.

1. I love his loyalty /dedication. Shortly after this picture I crossed over the 2 year mark of my spinal cord injury by getting my first pressure sore. I was in and out of the hospital for six months but he proved his love and his dedication to me before we ever even said “I do”. I will never forget some of the things he had to do for me & the level of sacrifice.
2. I love that you still make me light up when you walk in the room. When we get separated in a store, and you come down the aisle where I am, I light up. When the garage door opens, I’m so happy you’re home. I’m sorry I don’t always show this and usually start barking orders to help with this or to do that. I know you’re just as tired as I am, if not more so. It has to be exhausting knowing you are responsible for 4 additional people. Thank you for working a job that allows me to be home with our kids (it’s a dream come true) and to always be here when you get home.
3. I love your sense of adventure. Not only were you part of the UT sailing club, you’ve been white water rafting, & you’ve jumped out of an airplane almost 100 times (and convinced me to do it three times!). One of the first things you wanted to do, was take me out on a sailboat. I think it was our third or fourth date (this picture!). I thought you were absolutely crazy and almost didn’t want to go with you but somehow you talked me into it. Now we have our own 34’ sailboat. We really need to get that engine repaired so we can get back to making memories with our kids.
4. I love that I can’t sleep without you in the room, even when you snore and I love that you always kiss me goodnight. No matter what. That’s actually the one piece of advice I always give to newly married couples. No matter how much you are fighting, never go to bed angry, or at least without an I love you, we are in this forever kiss.
5. I love that you still dress up and take me on dates. Or at least you did before we started this so very long quarantine. Now to be fair, this picture was from an of anniversary a few years ago, but it was fun to dress up and rent a limo out for our romantic and lovely dinner. Even though the Limo was sponsored you still did all the work of booking and planning. We’ve had a couple of at home in drive-through dates in the last few months but I look forward to being able to go out with you for another romantic dinner. Until that day comes, we will keep thinking of fun ways to date each other at home.
6. I love your loyalty /dedication. I know you are always there for me and you will never turn away from me. Even when I whine and cry and complain and vent nonstop (ooops!) about everything, you somehow still support me. Thank you for being my best friend.