To my girls-what I want you to know about love

Hi girls! Today is your dad and I's anniversary. That means that 8 years ago on this day, he and I pledged ourselves to each other forever at our wedding. It was a gorgeous day filled with tears, happiness, and love. I want to talk to you about love today. This letter has been stirring in my mind for the past year. You may not appreciate it now, but I hope as you grow older, you will.

Love is and it isn't like the movies. Oh how I wish I could tell you that every second is like a beautiful romance movie.  But I can't. Instead love is hard work, it will leave you in tears (both happy and sad), and it leaves you more vulnerable to hurt than ever in your life. But love is beautiful like the movies, in that it is a dance. Pulling you closer to your partner and then at times apart, but then back together closer than before.

Love comes at many different times in your life. If at 13 you tell me you are in love, I promise to do my best not to tell you it isn't love or that you don't know what love is. For after all, if you know what love is like at two, you know what it is like as a teenager. It might not look the same at two as it does at 13, and the love you feel at 13 is nothing like the love you feel at 30. But it is still love to you. And if it's important to you, it will be important to me.

That is the thing about love. While it may look a little different at different times in your life, or for different people, it still stays the same. It is selfless. It is giving. It is painful. It is beautiful.

As each of you grow up and journey into love, your dad and I pray that we have been a good example of what love is like in your lives. We pray that the crazy flirting, teasing, tears, and laughter, have shown you what true love is.

It isn't always perfect, but it is our love for each other, and our love for you girls.

And that is what love is.