This month is very special, on July 11th 2016 my husband and I celebrated our twelve year anniversary (dating and married), and July 20th is our two year wedding anniversary. Nick and I met in middle school. We had a common friend who we both grew up with and got introduced at a little league football celebration party. I will always be grateful that we crossed paths at such a young age. We started dating in middle school but then broke up, then we started dating again the summer before high school started and have never looked back since. Who knew that day he said "will you be my girlfriend" in the backyard of our friend's house would change our lives forever. We dated all through high school, we went to college together, started a business together, got married after about ten years of dating, and the love story continues. Nick Greco is truly the best man I have ever met. To honor him on our anniversary I wanted to surprise him with a letter. Here it is.

Photography in this post is by the fabulous Olivia Rose Photography! I loved working with you on this girl, thanks so much!!

Olivia Rose Photography | Instagram | Facebook

Nick Greco,

Happy Anniversary! I apologize for choosing to still celebrate two anniversaries, I know you were hoping for one after we got married. I want to celebrate two because I am just so proud to say how long we have been together. It is such an honor and I'm so proud of us for not being quitters and fighting for our love through the years. I'm so honored to announce twelve years and shout it from the rooftops because it is a testimony that love lasts. When people see us together they think, oh they must be newlyweds or oh they must have recently fallen in love. I am so grateful because of you I know the "honeymoon phase" is not a real thing. We have been together for twelve amazing years and I adore you more and more each year. The years have had ups and downs, highs and lows, but I find that each low we push through I just come out of it being more in love with you. I love doing life together. I don't think love is something that comes and goes, I think it is something that needs strengthened but when you do so, the love gets stronger and less breakable. We have done that the last twelve years and will continue to do that. I am still giddy when I see you, I still get super excited when I see you calling and everyday when you come home, it makes me so happy to see you. The long lasting "honeymoon phase" we have is a reflection of the respect we have for each other. When you adore someone, respect them and care so much for them, the outsiders think it's "puppy love". I'll have puppy love for you until the day I die.

I am in love with you and grateful for you for so many reasons. You motivate me to love people unconditionally, the way you do me. You treat me like a princess whether I am in pj's or all dressed up. You never make me feel ugly, gross, or less than. You never make me feel shame or guilt. You are always loving and gracious with me... even when I might not deserve it. Thank you for being so kind.

Our relationship motivates me to be light-hearted and stress free, because our most cherished memories are when we are having fun and being care free together. I love laughing my butt off with you. You really are funny, and despite your argument that "I am not funny", I like to think I am ;). We have so many amazing memories together. I could close my eyes, point at any random thing and tell you how it reminds me of you. Everything I see in the world reminds me of you in some way. We have gone through so much together. When I met you, at 13 years old, you were a boy. We were kids, and somehow we found each other and fell in love. Real love (even tough all the teachers and parents said we were too young to REALLY be in love). Dang were they wrong. We went through high school together, college, we had to figure this "adulthood" thing out together, we were side by side learning how to be business people/entrepreneurs, we have become travel buddies, we've experienced loss of loved ones, highs and lows in business, financial struggles, financial successes, finding Christ, and so much more. Through all of it, you are my best friend. And now you are a man. THE MAN. MY MAN. A Godly man, a successful man, a confident man, a strong man, a man that provides, a man that is kind, and a very very handsome man!

I love that we are on the same page on just about everything in life. Our morals and values are so aligned that it's hard for us to disagree on much these days. I love that we want the same things out of life, even though our audacious goals seem crazy to other people. The future with you is so bright. You always keep me motivated to be a more hardworking, passionate person. The way you better yourself every day, and the way you stay passionate about life drives me to be better. Thank you for always supporting me. In anything I decide I want to pursue, you are right there by my side telling me "great job D" and "you can do it". That support means everything to me. I wonder what I would have passed up in life if I didn't have your support and encouragement. You help me to believe that I can do anything and be anything. I pray you know I feel the same way about you. I view you as unstoppable. If you see you want something, you go for it. You are basically amazing at anything and everything you do (I know I have told you that a million times, but it's so true). I admire you, your talent, smarts and natural skills. I also admire that anything you are not a "natural" at, you pursue until you are the best. The way you persevere is so inspiring, not just for me but for everyone around you. It's so amazing to watch people be inspired by my husband, it makes me feel so honored to be yours. How did I get so lucky to be with a guy like that? You are the best.

I can't wait to see what the future hold for us. I know it won't always be easy, but I know WITH YOU it will always be worth it. And Nick, I am excited to have your babies. Oh my gosh so excited, it gives me butterflies just thinking about it! You will be the best dad ever. I am thrilled my kids will have a dad that is smart, fun, kind, motivated and willing to fight for his family. What lucky kids they will be and what a lucky wife and mom I will be. When that time comes ;) .

Finally, I just want to thank you again. Thank you for being SO incredibly kind to me through the years. There are so many big things you've done for me, but many times it is the small acts of kindness that mean the most. Thank you for all those times you've made me breakfast in bed, or for when I've asked you to make me eggs on toast at 10:30 pm and you were so willing. You really do cook the best eggs ever. Thank you for not hesitating when I need you to run to the store to get me tampons, or something else silly, I know that is not fun or exciting for you but you are always kind and willing to do it. Thank you for always getting me anything I need when I don't feel well. You are always so sweet when I am sick, asking a million times "what do you need", "can I get you anything", "I'll run to the store to get you medicine or food". Those things show how sweet and thoughtful you are. Also, when I am sick I can see the genuine sadness on your face, you get so sad when you can tell I'm not okay. That right there is love. Thank you for putting up with me when I am grumpy, usually around 3pm when it seems to be my nap time. Or when I am hangry. Or when PMS strikes and all of a sudden I am crying for no reason. I know I can be a silly emotional mess sometimes, but you are still always so sweet to me. Thank you for that Nick!! Thank you for being the best Uncle to Logan, Cole and Abriel. They look up to you so much and I am so grateful they have a role model like you. Thank you for the random notes I get on the mirrors. Sometimes those notes come at the best times, when I need them most. Just seeing that "I love you D" on the bathroom mirror can fill my love tank and brighten my whole day. Thank you for saying "Hi cutie pie" every time you answer the phone, it makes me feel so special. Thank you for watching a trillion romantic-comedies and romance movies with me throughout the years. I know they are not always your favorite, but thank you for sitting through them with me. Nicholas Sparks should and could make a movie one day on OUR love story!! It'd be bigger than The Notebook (I'm biased though). Thank you for working so hard each day to provide and give me the life I have always wanted. Thank you for not quitting on our dreams (even when I probably would have). I am so grateful you had vision when all I had was fears. You are my rock Nick.

I love you so much Mr. Nick. You are my dream man, thank you for loving me the way you do. Happy anniversary (12 year and 2 year haha). Cheers to the next 12 years and to our amazing future together!!

xoxo,

Danielle