Nine Years, Still One Story — A Love That Keeps Growing

“A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.” — Dave Meurer

The First Steps of Forever

Nine years ago, we stood side by side, full of hope and a belief that love would be enough.
We were young, bold, and naive.
Love, we learned, was just the beginning. What carried us forward was the choice to grow—together.

We faced early adjustments like most couples do: learning to live with differences, to communicate, to fight fair, and to forgive fully. But even with the challenges, we found joy in the simple things: morning coffee, shared meals, and the quiet of each other's presence.

The Joy That Changed Everything

In 2017, we welcomed our first child.
That moment changed our lives more deeply than anything before. Our child became the center of our universe—a reminder of how love can manifest in the tiniest heartbeat.

Watching my wife become a mother was awe-inspiring. She embraced it with tenderness and strength, even on sleepless nights and through endless worries. Our home filled with new routines and new meaning.

When Loss Came Knocking

Then came 2021.
In May, we lost my mother—a woman who was not only my anchor but also deeply cherished by my wife. Her passing left a quiet emptiness that took time to acknowledge, let alone heal.

As if that pain wasn’t enough, just months later in September, we experienced the loss of our second child through IUFD. A life we were ready to welcome… vanished before we even had the chance to hold it. That year broke something in us—but it did not break us.

“Marriage is not a ritual or an end. It is a long, intricate, intimate dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense of balance and your choice of partner.”
— Amy Bloom

The Choice to Stay, Every Day

In those darkest days, we held on to each other. I chose to stay close to my wife—listening more, hugging longer, praying often. I supported her not just as a husband, but as someone who would always be on her side.

We both changed. Grief does that. But we changed together.

I continued to be present as a father, focusing on raising our child with love, integrity, and dreams for the future. And in those small acts—reading bedtime stories, cooking breakfast, laughing at silly jokes—we found pieces of joy again.

Where We Stand Today

Now, nine years in, we don’t just love each other—we understand each other. We’ve grown roots through storms and sunshine. We’ve learned that a good marriage isn’t measured by the absence of pain but by the strength of what survives it.

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”
— Mignon McLaughlin

We still argue sometimes. We still disagree. But we never walk away.

We’re choosing to celebrate every small joy and build the happiness we want—bit by bit, day by day. This is not the end of our love story. This is simply a chapter in a book we keep writing—together.