As the family was driving home on Sunday, and I was working on laundry and cleanup after their visit, my daughter texted me.

“FYI, Ansyr took your wedding album. I will be shipping it back. Sorry.”

Ansyr is 4-year-old sneaky, and that text message CRACKED ME UP. Of ALLLLL the things a 4-year-old would want to sneak into a backpack, who would have ever guessed it would be her Ama’s wedding album. Makes me love her even more now.

9 years ago today, my life changed for the best. That wedding album was created by my nephew, John; just snapshots, but priceless memories they are.

Today, I am grateful for memories of our wedding day.

I am grateful we didn’t make a big deal of it all – all we needed was each other…and my cousin/minister Danny and our Dads as witnesses to make it official.

I am grateful to be just as in love today as I was then.

I am grateful to have a partner who is a true partner.

I am grateful Sam calls me by my name.

I am grateful he helped me out this morning and took Dad to breakfast so I could get to work.

I am grateful for a surprise that walked into my office, carrying roses.

I am grateful we pray together, we go to church together, we live out our faith together, we keep each other in check.

I am grateful Sam does not let me “turtle” very long and has taught me to communicate and work through our challenges together.

I am grateful our family has grown – we now have a son, a new son-in-law, five more grandchildren, and two cats to love.

I am grateful we both like and dislike the same things.

I am grateful for 9 years full of life and living and adventures and traumas and handholding and “I love you’s” every day…

I am grateful for Sam I Am.

And I am grateful my granddaughter wanted our wedding album and her Mom is shipping it back.