Put on your wedding shoes (:

The thing is, I still get a little nervous when you hold my hand. My heart still beats a little faster when you smile. I still get excited to go on dates with you. I still love your voice, your touch, and being with you. At the end of a long day, you still make everything better. And I still don't picture my future with anyone else. This has been a journey and definitely not an easy one at that. We've stuck by each other through things that many couples will NEVER experience, much less at such a young age. So, this may not be easy. On September 9th, when we get to make a commitment to each other in front of our friends and family, I won't commit to making you happy 100% of the time for the next 80 years because, let's be honest, I won't. But I will commit to reminding you what it's like to experience life with me...a life that neither of us ever imagined. We've had the opportunity in the last year and a half to explore ourselves and find out who we really are. We've had the opportunity to get off track every now and then. We were able to live within and outside of society's standards. You've shown me value in things I never appreciated and I know I've done the same for you. So, let's love life, honey. Let's know that SOMETHING will go wrong on our wedding day...and it'll be perfect. Everything will fall into place. Because there's something about the life that we've found in each other that makes the little things not matter anymore. I promise to remind myself anytime that I'm doubting my love for you that small things aren't enough to drive me away. I'm SO much stronger than that...you've helped me become that person too. The strong girl. The girl that embraces her adventurous spirit even when caution encourages otherwise. Jordan, live with me. Experience life with me. Love me. And know that no matter what we face in the future, we can do this. I love you!

Flame

I watch this flame
pass from match to wick,
gently stepping over
a great divide.
This flame and I
are not so different.
It comes into being
from nothingness.
It eats and grows
and burns and rests.
It gets angry,
destroys homes,
consumes flesh.
Sated, it becomes calm
retreats into coals,
smoldering through the night.
Domesticated by a piece of string,
it makes its home
in a cave of wax.
It chases the shadows away
and stands watch through the night.
It sways
and dances in the darkness.
Before it is extinguished
in the blink of an eye.
I'll watch over you,
like a flame.

White Crayon

Despondent Crayola crayon
wearing the label "white?"
Makes the children wary,
using him wouldn't be right.
What's the actual need
For a crayon such as he?

Desiring to be used,
patiently waiting for his turn.
Boxed, unmentioned, unnoticed
"Hold me in your hands," he yearns.
Look past the colorlessness,
pick, choose, want this!

He finally got his break-
A break that led to brokenness.
The child melts half of his body away,
Her sweaty hands now holding less.
The other half rolls to darkness
The white to be covered and never missed.