Many of the friends and family who read this blog have heard about my thoughts on this, but I feel that on this day of all days [our 6 yr wedding anniversary] I should record this for when my kids can understand it or when I don't have words at my disposal to convey what I feel for their Dad.

When asked to create an art piece that repressed their experience or feelings about 'love' a group of designers churned out a number of different results. A majority of them went with the more obvious expected colors you would think of when it comes to love-your typical deep reds and rosy pinks. A few of them who had less positive experiences produced designs that were darker, with greys, blacks, dark purples, deep blues. Although it was all the same topic, every person made something completely different, because love is unique and specific to each person, and each story.

In thinking about what kind of a piece I would put out if I were participating in this challenge, I ended up landing firmly on a gradient of colors. As most everyone in the world knows, Lester and I met at the ripe old age of 14 at a church activity that included a dance. The seeds of our friendship were planted there, and slowly but surely budded, blossomed and flourished into where we are now.

I have so many beautiful memories of those days-days full of flirty new pale pinks that eventually changed into richer, bubblegum then magenta hues. As time went on and our feelings grew stronger, so did the colors-light reds and a lot of 'firsts'. First hand holding, first kisses and the bright, violent, intense red that comes with not only new love and infatuation, but also high school hormones and all that fun haha.




And as we grew, and it turned into more then just 'first love' but more like 'REAL love'-the kind that could last-the colors turned deeper and more serious. Then came his mission, and the occasional letters which brought us back to yellows somehow. Like in the days when he used to always buy me yellow roses, when we were kids, bc even though they meant friendship, that is where we started out and something we always wanted to maintain, regardless of our relationship status.
I have so many memories of perfectly bright, beautiful oranges, being newly engaged and blissfully happy. Days of yellow sunshine, orange sunsets and sepia toned perfection as we entered adulthood and marriage, and a life of our own creation together. Colors that never seem to fade, but remain pristinely bright, bold, optimistic, happy, maybe even innocent and a little naive, just like we were then.

The thing is, I think maybe people have the misconception that this is what love should be or look like at all times. Bright, intense and bold-never fading or changing forever. Always reds, pinks, oranges and yellows. But they miss out on SO much when they limit themselves to that. Because with marriage, and the unflinching solidity of time, things are guaranteed to change. And if you expect it to stay the same forever, you will be disappointed....but if you embrace it, prepare for it and accept it with open arms there is a whole new spectrum of beautiful colors and experiences in love that you could never have fathomed before.

Lester and I live in a world now of forest greens, light and dark blues, pastel and plum purples, even light grays. And it is perfection. There is a consistency, a comfort and an all encompassing peace that comes with time in love-one that permeates everything you do and say, and the way you live. It is like the deep breath after a long, long day-the exhale that blows out all the insecurities or heavy things that can build inside you. It blends into the two of you, and a life well lived and a security in yourself and your loved one.

People look their whole lives for the reds, pinks and yellow orange excitement in love. And while I wouldn't trade those experiences and colors Lester and I have had, I would never go back and potentially miss the perfect peace, safety and contentment I have now in my blues, purples, greens and greys.

Honestly, 6 years is not a long time. But I am to the point where I struggle to see where he ends, and I begin, because he is a part of me, and I of him. I love the gradient of colors and of life and love we have. Here's to all the beautiful colors to come. Happy 6th anniversary Pester. I love you.