I'd rather have...

"I'd rather have thirty minutes of wonderful, than a lifetime of nothing special."  

Shelby, Steel Magnolias

Our history together only spanned nine years.

Our marriage - seven.

Too short, indeed.

But thankfully, our love is for an eternity.

* * * * * * *

At some point after thirty, I began to make peace with the fact that I might be single for the rest of my life.  I didn't love the idea - but I began to accept that possibility.  When I was thirty-five - I met Iain and didn't marry him til I was thirty seven.  If I knew then what I know now - and if I realized that I would only have a brief chapter of my life with him -- I still would have wholeheartedly done it again.  My life together with him was blessed, full, adventurous, challenging and joyful.  I fully embrace that quote from Steel Magnolias.  Thirty minutes of wonderful is, indeed, better than a lifetime of nothing special.  I have been gifted with a beautiful life with the man who was far more wonderful that my mind would have ever been able to conceive.  Even in our darkest moments, I knew what we had was special.  Our life together was short - but I am SO very grateful for every piece of it. This blessed marriage also gave us the amazing gift of our precious daughter. 

Reaching for Daddy's hand. 

Pure gift.

* * * * * * * * *

Four years ago, as we prepared to enter the adoption process, we were asked to compile an Adoption Profile which birth mothers would be able to look at as they chose adoptive parents for their babies. I wanted to include the pages that Iain and I wrote describing each other. 

Here is the one I wrote about Iain:

And here is the one Iain wrote about me.

(I feel so blessed to have these words from his heart.)

* * * * * * *

And just for good measure, I'll throw in the rest of the profile - for those who might be interested.

There are a couple more pages that I've yet to locate....but you get the jist.
We were blessed.
We are blessed.