so then if your eye is clear,

your whole body will be full of light.

even the sun serves your beauty.

your eyes cut through the empty air
using the light that gives this world life
as its cosmic errand boy

my heart quivers at the reflection
my soul surges
dancing, racing forward to reach you

grasping, fumbling, stumbling
to be in the presence of the person
whose glory breaks the boundaries
of the body before me

even the sun serves your beauty.

While this isn't from our first date, it sure is a good picture

Today is the day I talked to you about us. I don’t remember all that was said, but I do remember that I started out ‘the talk’ by saying something like, “I kind of like you … [insert some more stuff about why I like you and about how I wanted to see if we should get married to each other] …. So what do you think about that?”

“Yes,” was the word that came out of your lips, a classic Jess response – one where you said what was on your mind without really answering the question.

4 years later, I am so glad you said yes.

26 years ago today, my life was changed – and yet I did not know it. I had no way of knowing how your beauty would change me, how your life would captivate me, and how your presence would comfort me.

26 years ago today is one of the best days in my experience of human history. For on it, many of my other best days became possible.

So on this anniversary of your birth – my darling, my beautiful one – I would that you would feel the glory of your birth. That the weight of your importance and significance would rest upon your heart and that deep inside a joy would spring forth that finds delight in the beauty of God’s plan for you and for me.

I love you, Jess, and happy birthday!

I remember my best birthday ever,  and now on that same day two years later I want to let you know how deeply and how truely I love you.  Your heart has made me so happy these few short years we have had together.  You have been such a joy to get to know and to love.  I adore you.