Journals

To my love

May 26, 2021

Dear Rachael,

Happy Two Year Anniversary! I hope you enjoy this form of a letter this time around. While I won't stop writing you letters on physical paper, I wanted to make it special with this first letter on our website.

The kayaking picture you see here was taken in November 2014! Funny enough I remember this time very clearly. I had asked to borrow Robert's kayak, you wore that fun sparkly sweater, and I was so nervous because I had been wanting to kiss you for so long up to this point. Finding this picture means a lot to me because I didn't realize I had taken one on the lake and it was such a good day that the memory comes back to me from time to time. I know we talked about whatever was going on in our lives at the time but underneath our small talk I think I can say for both of us that there were butterflies and sparks flying as our hearts swelled for each other. Even though I can't remember everything we said on this day, I do remember the feelings I had and the super young and naïve love that was nothing but a sapling at the time.

Fast forward to the all the other photos I have here for this letter where they show you bringing me my lunch and taking selfies with me in my usual recovery spot, the bed. Then there is the selfie of us at Connor and Laura's engagement party where we both look good ;) and happy. You took such wonderful care of me and really met my every need. You have a kind heart that does want others to be treated fairly and with love. I picked these photos because it's a great display of our grown up love that is now closer to a young tree. It still has a lot of growth ahead and needs some more branches and leaves, but I'm so proud of how far we have come. I promise to keep watering it, giving it enough light, and fertilizer from time to time in order to make it a large, healthy great big oak.

So here's to us! Two years down and 79 to go (how many more we should have before you're 106). I hope this website becomes our happy space to share our life stories together, look back on sweet memories with friends and family, and ultimately become a source of true joy for us. I love you more than anything, Rachael Marie Swalsamo.

Love,

Ethan