When you know, you know....or do you?

It is coming up on my husband and my 7 year wedding anniversary, so I have been looking back to our life together over these years. It is hard to believe so much time has passed. 

Our relationship started out just as friends, we were both going through separations from our spouses and it was nice to have someone to talk to that understood what I was going through.  People thought we had this secret affair going on, which is so far from the truth! I actually was not too fond of him when we first met, I thought he seemed cocky and sort of a ladies man, so there was no instant connection there, but given we were going through similar problems, we eventually sparked up a friendship.  It was rocky, to say the least, when we actually started dating.  I had a daughter from my previous marriage and he also had a daughter, who was not too please to have me interrupt their life.  

At the time though it was just fun, we were just hanging out. He quickly became my best friend. There were no expectations, I worked full time and so did he and we both had our own obligations, so we would see each other when we had the time, which wasn't often. 

Soon though I started having some financial problems, even though I was working full time, I still couldn't make ends meet, my plan was to move in with my sister in Alabama to get back on my feet. He showed up one night though like a knight in camouflage armor and asked me, "Why don't you and your daughter move in with me for awhile so you can get back on your feet and not have to move out of state. At first, I said no, I wasn't too sure. But eventually the idea seemed like a good one. It was probably the best decision of my life.  From that day on, I saw him in a much different light, he really was my best friend, from there is history...I cannot see myself without him, we have built a life together that works so well. Now, it isn't all roses and wine, all the time, he can infuriate me to no end, and I am sure I aggravate the mess out of him, but it works, we just make it work. 

He allows me to be myself, which is pretty awesome, I don't have to pretend to be anything but myself and that is such a freeing feeling when you don't feel like you have to put on a show for someone.  He doesn't get in the way of what I want to do and he encourages me to follow my dreams, I could not have accomplished all that I have without him.

He is a great Father, after our daughter was born, he helped me every step of the way. He goes to work tirelessly, everyday to make sure we are all taken care of and he loves his family. I can't say enough about him!

When I was growing up, I would always hear people say, "When you know, you know" and for the most part, I believe that is true, it kind of sneaks up on you and one day you wake up and realize you are exactly where you are supposed to be with exactly the person you are meant to be with. Not saying it wasn't hard to get to where we are today, there were times I thought it was over, that we just weren't going to see this through, but we have always found a way to get past the storm.  All of those bad times seem so worth it. Blending families is such a hard thing to do, so hats off to all those step-parents out there, those kids will give you a run for your money...they make you work for it! LOL.

To sum it up, I am so lucky to have found my soul-mate.

Happy Anniversary to my best friend....I love you for everything that you are and I look forward to many more years of this crazy life together.