Letters my husband wrote me while we were dating

It all started last week while I was doing a deep dive on my Stacie Journals from college. I’m writing a book about some of the really challenging things we’ve gone through in our marriage, so I’ve been reading through my journals to remember who we were, what I was feeling, and what I was thinking. I started with our dating journals.

Four months into long-distance dating, Brett wrote me a list of meaningful things about myself and our relationship he thought I would appreciate. Here are just a few things that made me tear up or LOL while reading them: 

“1. You are beautiful. Inside. Outside. Any side really. 

2. I was pretty nervous when I got to see you [in person] last year…. At thanksgiving I looked like a [caveman] (Stacie Note: he hadn’t shaved for months because of no shave November and pure laziness, PLUS he had grown his hair out FAR beyond an attractive length. He was unrecognizable. It was awful and I immediately was like- yikes, that’s so unattractive and I sort of avoided him the rest of the day. I’m so ridiculous) and at Christmas I looked like a kid clean out of the Tabernacle Choir (Stacie Note: It’s true, at Christmas he was caveman no longer. He’d shaved and had gotten a hair cut and I was like Oh, yeah, there’s that hotty I’d be interested in dating). 

3. I don’t have to fake or act like I’m a ‘certain’ person for you, I Just get to be someone redeemed by grace. You hear my biggest complaint, struggles, and about my biggest failures and yet you still ‘like’ me. That’s pretty awesome if you ask me. God has made you awesome at that and I’m so grateful that I get to do the same for you.”

When I read his list, I really loved what he wrote. I felt so seen. So cared for. I still feel like he cares for me in these ways. He cares for me by shaving his face and getting his haircut regularly. He is never anything other than his unapologetic self. He is always joyous to take in my beauty and is intentional to let me know when he likes my eyes, hair, 31 year old body or outfit.

What’s something meaningful a loved one has said to you that will stick with you forever?