We celebrated our second anniversary a week early in warm, rich Hawaiian air -- air that tastes like jungle and sun and salty ocean. Waimea Valley, a tropical Eden tucked in the Ko'olau Moutains, is home to a small, delicately-lit restaurant that serves the most delicious seared ahi and taro creme brûlée. Completely, wonderfully delicious. Days later, we spent our actual anniversary flying to Portland and driving several hours to Trenton's childhood home in Kennewick, Washington. Unpacking my suitcase at midnight, I stumbled upon a drawer filled with letters and postcards sent before we were married. The most recent one, dated days before Trenton proposed, is a perfect tribute to our two years together.
"You should know I fall in love with you all the time. Its not a stale, stagnant love, left over from before your mission or sustained out of habit, convenience. I fall in love with you again and again, over and over. I fell in love with you when you kissed me on the couch the morning I got to Kennewick. When you gave your homecoming talk. When you fixed the sprinklers with your dad. When we picked cherries at your Grandpa's. When you sing 'Call Me Maybe'. When you drive. EVERY TIME you put your hand on my knee. When you call me "Em". When you split your meal with me. When you speak Portuguese. When you helped my Dad with the boat. When you helped me win cards, when you didn't help me win cards... When you called my snoring cute. When you called me after work the other day just to say 'I love you' before you got in the shower. When you let me sleep on your lap driving to Idaho. When you told me you'd come to Utah.
The list grows and grows a bit more each day. I could fill all these pages with those little moments. Moments when my heart races a bit, when I stop and think 'This is the best person I know' or 'I am completely happy'.
I love you! I love saying the words almost as much as I love hearing them from you. How great is love, Trenton? How great and important -- vitally important to God's grand scheme, the master plan. Love makes us the best versions of ourselves, helps us to learn and grow and see. Love makes service natural, fills us with gratitude. I used to wonder how my parents are such good people, and now I know. Its because they've got more love than anyone else I know. Love for each other and love for our Father in heaven. Love for our Savior.
So thank you for loving me and letting me love you back. It has changed my life."
