Rain-mazing! [by Jeff]

Today is our (14th!) anniversary. It's hard to believe. Time goes by so fast. One thing that hasn't changed is my love for Rainey. I don't normally like surprises (in fact I hate them) but she still has the ability to surprise me every day. Those little bursts of beauty, of kindness, of laughter, of joy, of...rain-mazing-ness, are the kind of surprises I can take.

When I try to really set my thoughts on how I feel about Rainey my chest swells and a lump forms in my throat... It's just too much. My life has been infinitely expanded by her presence. Paths that didn't exist or would have gone undisturbed have been opened. We just fit. Physically, mentally, emotionally, socially... ok maybe not so much socially but in the ways we aren't alike we compliment each other, making us stronger as a whole.

This year we started running together 3 or 4 times a week. I do it not so much for the exercise but for the time alone with Rainey, to talk and do something that makes her feel good. We've grown a lot closer as a result. I've learned a lot of things I didn't know before. It seems a miracle that she continued to date me as confused as she was by my actions at the time. I find myself looking forward to that time together and I've missed it since the snow has continued to keep us inside.

My goal, as it has been since the first year we were married is to spend as much time with her as I can. I don't know the secret to everyone's happiness but I do know that my happiness is, and always will be, with her.