Today is my 10 year anniversary with my husband Chris. If you know our story at all, you know that our marriage has had its major ups and downs. But we’ve fought the good fight, learned a lot, cried a lot, and healed a lot together. Our first 10 years were not what I imagined marriage would be like, but in many ways they were better. I don’t want to glorify the pain or heartache, but I absolutely wouldn’t trade the lessons learned or beauty God created from ashes for anything.

I’ve always been one to forge ahead. I’m a dreamer, a planner, and a goal setter. I hate bucket lists though—because I think they’re morbid. Instead I like the idea of a Living List— or in this case—an Us List. As I think about the next ten years and where I want to be—the resonating theme is “by your side.” I know with God guiding us, our hearts full, and our dreams enormous—the world is our oyster.

To my husband, just for kicks—here are 10 things I want to do with you in the next 10 years:

1) Enjoy adventures together

Whether it’s a big move to a new city, trips to exotic places, or nearby excursions in the great outdoors, I love being adventurous with you. I love knowing I’m safe when you’re with me and I can just be free to enjoy the journey. I can’t wait to teach our daughter how to explore God’s majestic creation and steward it well. The best part is we get to do it all together.

2) Realize dreams together

We’ve experienced a lot of trials and heartaches these first ten years. We buried your mama, said goodbye to family members and friends, and almost lost each other. While I know that life is hard and more sorrow is likely to come at some point, I believe these next 10 years will prove to be a season of breakthrough for us. It’s time to see our dreams come to pass, our sown seeds bloom, and abundance in all areas become our new reality. I see the greatness inside of you, my love, and I’m sitting on the edge of my seat watching God unfold all He has planned for you. How blessed am I to be a witness.

3) Have more children together

The most glorious thing I have ever done is become a mother. Thank you for giving me that gift. I never really understood who I was until I held sweet Lorelai. I couldn’t ask for a better partner than you in raising our breathtaking daughter.

When I think of our next ten years, I can’t help but see more blessings from heaven take their place in our family. I love dreaming about a little “Christopher” running around with his daddy’s freckles and smile. What an honor it is to parent with you and how very fortunate Lorelai is to have such a doting daddy.

4) Take time to rest and play together

Heck ya! When you work hard, you gotta play hard. Since I know us, I can only imagine how hard we’ll work the next 10 years as we take our businesses to the next level and take on even more. So it only seems natural to include on this list that I want us to make sure we rest and play together. I’m looking forward to lots of laughter, fun, amazing memories, and goofiness! I love how we can be big kids together and find fun in everything from horseback riding, boating on the lake, or just chasing our kids through the backyard sprinkler.

Whether it’s a relaxing vacation, a trip to the lake, or sipping sweet tea on the back porch reading a great book, I look forward to being by your side in the down time while we recoup and refresh in the precious presence of our Lord.

5) Worship Together

They say marriage is a very sanctifying experience and it’s true! But if there’s anything we share in common in this marriage—it’s a passionate faith in the name and person of Jesus. I can’t wait to worship together, hear His voice together, receive revelation of His Word together, and grow in the spirit individually and as one. If we keep our eyes fixed on Him, there’s no mountain we can’t climb, no storm we can’t weather, and nothing that can separate us from His love. These next ten years, let’s fall more in love with Jesus and give our lives to Him as an act of worship. I know you’re with me on this one. <3

6) Think up new ideas together

You and I are never more alive than when we’re hatching up a new idea! I love that God gave me a man I can think with. We’re the perfect pair with different, yet complimentary giftings and expertise. Between the two of us we cover almost every angle and it’s an absolute thrill to be in that mind-space with you. I envision hundreds of hours staring into each other’s’ lit up eyes while we brainstorm, problem solve, and invent the unexpected.

7) Build business together

One of my favorite things about you is how you love to build and aren’t afraid of hard work. It’s such a treasure that we are such equally yoked worker bees. I know that we’ll put our shoulders to the plow together and reach levels only God can imagine or predict. How exciting to think we get to create together for, and on behalf of, our Creator! What an honor it is that He gave us this privilege and anointing. My love, there’s no one in the universe I’d rather labor beside.

8) Get naked… together 😉

I’m so grateful to be married to such a loving and kind lover. I vote we get naked a lot the next ten years. Need I say more? Didn’t think so. It’s on the list big time.

9) Honor you more

Ok, so this one isn’t so much “together”—but I want it here, front and center anyway. In the beginning of our marriage there was so much I didn’t know. I spent several years not treating you the way I should have, and I’ve spent (almost) every day since trying to make it up to you. For the next 10 years, I want to honor you and show you the respect you deserve every day of our lives together. You are a wonderful, God-fearing man and I will do my best to always remember that and treat you as such.

10) Heal and grow together

I think the most beautiful part of being broken people in a broken world is the precious experience of healing together. We’ve done a lot of this already, I know. But in the next ten years I want us to become even more of what God intended us to be— I want us to heal more together. To become more powerful people, more peaceful people, more loving people, and more wise people. What better legacy could we leave for our family than our testimony of healing straight from the heart and hands of Jesus? My love, let’s ask God for everything He’s got for us! Let’s expect the miraculous and then turn around and give it back to the world. What do you say?