twenty years ago…

i turned fifteen.

for my birthday, i received a ring.  this ring…

a ring that no longer fits my finger.
a ring with a bent band.

a ring that meant the world to me at fifteen and still means the world to me now at thirty-five.

that ring?
it was given to me by a boy.

but, not just any boy.  this boy stole my heart.

and, over the years, that boy gave me many rings…
including the OTHER ring in the picture.

twenty years ago, adam & i celebrated my 15th birthday together {he was the lone boy in a living room full of teenage girls…lucky him}.  here we are, twenty years later, celebrating my 35th birthday.  still together.

this year, i did not get a ring or other fancy things.

instead, i got grocery store flowers that turn the water in the vase pink and a very generous starbucks gift card.  obviously, the way to my heart is not carats, but caffeine.  oh, and flowers.  any kind of flower.  i’m just happy to get flowers.

to some, it might seem i’m getting shafted in the gift department.  to me, however, it’s just a simple reminder of how lucky i am.  as adam’s card so beautifully reminded me…

i have everything
i could ever need –
i have you.

happy 35th birthday to me…and to all of the other september babies out there.  and, just because it seems right…