Our Sixth Anniversary + YOU

Today (July 16, 2012) is Mommy’s & Daddy’s sixth anniversary. You’re the center of our marriage too; you magnify the love between us. While Mommy & you are still traveling in Greece, Daddy called to say Happy Anniversary to Mommy. I expected a phone call this afternoon (morning for Daddy; an eight hour difference) but I didn’t expect to be speechless. It was around 2:30 p.m. when I had covered you up in our bed and laid down next to your sleepy little eyes wet with tears since you wanted to go to the “thalasa (the beach)” rather than nap. The phone rang. I answered, “Hello.” Daddy said, “I just want you to know that the last six years of my life have been the best years bar none. Happy Anniversary! I love you!” I guess I didn’t expect that right after saying hello to him. Hearing those words and curled up on my side looking straight into your beautiful little eyes left me speechless. I had to ask Daddy if he thought about that line all night rather than sleep. Just as I was listening to his answer, your little lips pulled together to give a kiss. I kissed those little lips and your eyes beckoned to the phone. Thus, I put Daddy on speaker phone and held the phone to your ear/mouth…you made a sweet, sweet kissing sound. Daddy sent you a kiss back through the phone and said, “I love you baby girl!” Without another word, you closed your eyes and Daddy finished talking to Mommy for a minute before heading off to work. These little moments of joy smother my face with unexpected smiles, load my soul with thanksgiving, and make my heart sing. Our lives are filled with blessings and today, I hold near to my heart my marriage to your father, Daddy Curtis Rusty Jackson (as you’ve been known to call him). I searched for a picture of the two of us to add to today’s post but found not one picture of our wedding in Santorini, Greece in 1996 lurking around on my laptop. However, my eye caught a glimpse of these two pictures of the three of us at your baptism in Zitsa, Greece in 2009. Both photographs resonate the love of our marriage, the center of our lives----YOU! My prayer is that together the two of us, Daddy & I, can exemplify unity, respect, & love in ways that you’ll desire to encompass them so that you too can find a love that transcends your heart’s desires.

The three of us at your baptism in Zitsa 2009.

3 years ago + 3 more years = SIX YEARS

After preparing this post for a keepsake for us, I uncovered an email from Daddy (Note: We're still in Greece & we don't have internet connection at Yiayia's & Papou's house so pulling together all of our documents online is not as convenient as it is at home.). The email Daddy sent said, "Happy anniversary babydoll, the best years of my life have been spent with you by my side and in my world. Also wanted to tell you that i miss you a little. (A little too much, A little too often,  And a little more everyday.) By the way can you tell me where we keep the extra cups, the extra glasses, the extra spoons, the extra forks, and the extra towels. We appear to be out of those. I Love You Dearly Baby, give my babygirl kisses and hugs from her daddy,  and tell her i that i have been so lonely without her here that yesterday i went out back and looked for glass by myself. Hugs and Kisses!!!" Initially, I smiled and laughed out loud. That silly Daddy! Then, I reread this little email  and it's so Daddy! He has always made me laugh and live life a little on the "less serious side". He adds laughter to every situation on hand. He loves. Works hards---------doesn't play  enough each day, week, month or year but there's always humor to weave throughout the hardest days of our lives. I look forward to reuniting the three of us together next week when we return home. May God's grace carry us safely back home so that the two of you can play outside together while I uncover those extra dishes.