10 Years...

To my dearest Peter on our 10 year anniversary,

I know that you might kill me for posting this on our blog, so please forgive me. I just wanted to make sure that we remember where we've been and where we are going...together, forever.

It has been my greatest fortune to have met you, and have fallen in love with you 10 years ago on this day. I still can't believe that you actually loved me back, and still do. Thank you for being my best friend and partner all this time. You are a friend in the "valley" and a friend on "the mountaintop" in good times and hard times. I cannot imagine a life without you. We have sort of "grown up" together, huh? I think the first thing I said to you was probably the dumbest thing ever... "My name is Liz and I like to have fun!" Thank you for loving me anyway! I will never forget the whirlwind of our Freshman year together, and I even forgive you for falling down the library stairs while carrying me on your shoulders at 2:30 AM!

I have never laughed harder than I have with you. There aren't adaquate words either to describe the deep sense of safety and peace I feel, held in the steadfast and persistant love you show me every single day. Every single year. You were there for me after my car accident, you take the trash out b/c you know I hate it, you always eat my food graciously, we have moved together more times than anyone really should, you are a wonderful father, you work and study ceaselessly to provide for our family, you leave me chilled coffee every morning even though you think it's wierd that I love cold coffee. You are nothing less than a very tangible symbol of redemtion in my life. I love you. My treasure, my friend. The memories are too numerious to list, and some as you know, are to scandelous to post so here is the short list. Here is our top 10 at 10:

1. Passing notes in U of I School of Music practice rooms (i'm still sorry about the highlighter incident!)

2. Interlocken Arts Camp canoe trips

3. Shark bowls at R&R's and Pokey sticks

4. October 15, 1998...Friday afternoon outside the U of I Music School. Planning the first date.

Elizabeth: "Peter do you want to go see this play with me this weekend?"

Peter: "Sure, I guess"

(a few hours pass and elizabeth calls peter's dorm room)

Elizabeth: "So, I just realized the play isn't until November... Sorry."

Peter: "Oh"

Elizabeth: "So I guess I'll see you in November. Like Wyclef...ha ha ha"

(Read here: This is the part where I was waiting for you to say something like, 'Oh no- I couldn't possibly wait that long to go out with you. What are you doing tonight?' But no! Instead...

Peter: "Okay, see you in November"

(Obviously, we ended up managing to get together at some point)

5. The Horsetooth Resevior insident... my partner in crime

6. Driving from Calvin to MSU every. single. weekend.

7. Our front porch on Ethel St. in Grand Rapids

8. Seeing you dressed up as a blue care bear on Halloween

9. Clara Jane

10. Waking up next to my best friend every morning

You are engraved in my heart forever.

Love,

Elizabeth