Five Years

Five years ago today, I married my best friend under a canopy of trees and right before a thunderstorm. We celebrated the beginning of our lives together with our family and friends and held each other close throughout the evening. We danced to our song, walked through a showering of bubbles, and drove off into the night. We spent our first night together as a married couple in our very first apartment. What a perfect day!

"In Your Eyes"

by Peter Gabriel

love I get so lost, sometimes

days pass and this emptiness fills my heart

when I want to run away

I drive off in my car

but whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are

all my instincts, they return

and the grand facade, so soon will burn

without a noise, without my pride

I reach out from the inside

in your eyes

the light the heat

in your eyes

I am complete

in your eyes

I see the doorway to a thousand churches

in your eyes

the resolution of all the fruitless searches

in your eyes

I see the light and the heat

in your eyes

oh, I want to be that complete

I want to touch the light

the heat I see in your eyes

love, I don't like to see so much pain

so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away

I get so tired of working so hard for our survival

I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive

and all my instincts, they return

and the grand facade, so soon will burn

without a noise, without my pride

I reach out from the inside

in your eyes

the light the heat

in your eyes

I am complete

in your eyes

I see the doorway to a thousand churches

in your eyes

the resolution of all the fruitless searches

in your eyes

I see the light and the heat

in your eyes

oh, I want to be that complete

I want to touch the light,

the heat I see in your eyes

in your eyes, in your eyes

in your eyes, in your eyes

in your eyes, in your eyes

My Sweet, Sweet Baby Brad,

Through the good, the bad, and the ugly - you are there for me.  You keep me calm when I am crazy and you make me laugh.  You help me to relax and to take it easy...to not sweat all of the small stuff.  You are more patient with me than you are with anyone else, and I thank you for that.  You make my life better every day.  Together, with Jack, you have made me a mother...my most cherished gift.  I love you more every day, and I know that together, we can get through anything.  I look forward to everything the future holds for us and to growing old with you.  I love being your wife (yes, even on the days you make me crazy)!

I love you,

Erika