Chris,

My love, my Captain, my darling. You hold so many titles in our relationship. Some of which I have no idea of their origins (like “Beebs”–where the hell did I come up with that one?) and some that make the most perfect sense–ahem– “sweet cheeks.” And while you carry each term of endearment with the greatest esteem, there’s one name that I find to be the most cherished, for I am the only one on the planet that has the privilege of calling you husband.

We turned two a few days ago. Our second anniversary was spent almost exactly like our first. We didn’t get dressed up. There was no fancy candlelit dinner at an expensive restaurant. Gifts weren’t even exchanged on that day (mostly because you’re horrible at waiting to gift me something and yours hasn’t even arrived yet). Instead, we drove over seven hours across the state, in torn jeans and work shirts, with a car full of archery equipment.

And you know what? I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I revel in the quiet moments that we spend together in the car. Laughing hysterically at the backseat of our car, which was reminiscent of a modern trading wagon with sheaths of arrows, two bows, and piles of sheepskins. I relished in the times we pulled over on the side of the road to take in the scenery of eastern Washington or when we donned our cowboy hats and surveyed the basalt columns along Highway 2, or even when we grabbed a quick coffee in Bavarian-themed Leavenworth.

Our lives are incredible. We’ve woven our passions into a profession and I don’t know how long it’s going to last, but I intend on relishing in every moment. But even if we weren’t traveling the world or holding outrageously themed archery tournaments, I know that we would still believe our lives to be grand because we get to spend it together.

You are so magical and you don’t even know it. You have the gift of making the ordinary extraordinary and your childlike wonder for the world feeds my soul. You are my rock, the wind in my sails, my best friend. Thank you for your never ending love, passion, and support. Thank you for eight years of adventure and two years of marriage. Here’s to many, many more.

Happy anniversary.