Anniversaries

 Six years ago today, I married not just The Hubs, but GG and LW.  I know that might sound a little strange, but I did.  This is OUR anniversary.  A day for all of us to celebrate becoming a family.

Six years ago today, we had our wedding.  We held it in our back yard, and had one of our very best friends officiate the service.  It was a beautiful sunset ceremony with all of our very closest friends and family in attendance.  The wedding itself was in three parts.

Part 1:  The Hubs and Me
"Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth.  Where my life was dark, you have brought light.  You have helped me to let go of the past, and embrace the future; And our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together.  I come to you with my eyes wide open.  I enter this marriage with you knowing that the true magic of our love is not to avoid changes, but to navigate them successfully.  Whatever lies ahead, good or bad, we will face together.  Distance may test us afor a time, and time may try us, but if we look to each other first, we will always see a friend.  Look to me for all the days to come; for today I take my place by your side. "

We even tied two cords together into a knot, signifying our binding.  We have it in our room.  I don't notice it every day since it's always just "there", but when I do, I remember why we're in this and it always makes me smile.

Part 2: Me and The Girls
Today you are my daughters.  No more contracts, no more negotiations, this time it's forever (that was an inside joke btw).  In the years to come, we will laugh together, cry together, fight together and share hope together.  And through it all, my love for you will never waiver.  I'm giving you this necklace (a three diamond drop necklace) as a symbol of my love and commitment to you, as well as this family.  Know that there will always be a place for you in my heart, is there room in your heart for me?

I told the girls before the ceremony, that no matter what happened, not to cry.  They didn't know this part was coming.  They didn't realize I was committing to them as well as to their dad.  They both cried, and so did I.  When they agreed to make room in their hearts for me, was one of the happiest moments of my life.

Part 3: Our Family
In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing - it meant the words "I love you." So it is appropriate that for your first gift - as a new family - that gift would be a single rose.  Please exchange your first gift as a new family.  In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding three small roses - and now you are holding three small roses. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you all have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.  I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future - whether it be a large and elegant home - or a small and graceful one - that you all pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a re-commitment to your family - and a re-commitment that THIS will be a marriage and family based upon love. 

And each year, on (or near if someone is away like when LW was away at college) our anniversary, we all come together as a family.  We give a rose to each member of our family, and say what the best part of having that person in our family was this past year.  Then we say what we're going to do in the coming year to keep our family strong and then light a candle, each in our turn.  As the Tweedles have come along, we've included them, bringing them into this family commitment so they understand our family as a unit.  There are no sides in this blended family.  No boundaries of his, hers or ours.  We're all in this together.

I know it sounds kinda corny.  I've been told it's very "Brady Bunch".  And while I can see that from their side,  I wouldn't change it one bit.  In a blended family, more than ever, we need to come together and remember why we're here, what we're doing this all for, and that each of us is loved.  I couldn't ask for a more perfect way to express this to each other.

Six years ago, I made a commitment to The Hubs, GG and LW.  Six years and two more kids later, I wouldn't change a thing.  I love you all.  Thank you so much for bringing me into your family, for loving me and making this journey the best of my life.

Seriously.. Thoughts?