Best. Night. Ever.

I'm sure that you have a significant other whom you love dearly. Someone who will bring you soup when you're sick, come and pick you up when you get a flat tire, make breakfast in bed for you on your birthday. I'm sure that person is just great, really.  All I'm saying is, that person could never, ever measure up to my husband. Go ahead, give your significant other the challenge. I'll wait.

On Saturday, July 14, we celebrated our five-year wedding anniversary. I've been working like a mad woman, and our weekends have been chock full of obligations, so we agreed: no gifts, no special trip, not even a card. Just dinner out that night with our parents. Little did I know.

Months ago -- we're talking February -- Husband started plotting. He contacted friends and family, calling all of them to convene at a local restaurant on the eve of July 14. Numerous friends drove hours -- and I mean hours -- to attend. One of them was sick. The other was celebrating his birthday the same day. But they came. Only one person from our wedding party was missing, and she is a plane ride away, so she gets a pass (although she did send the best game in the world, Cards Against Humanity).

And I had absolutely no idea.

I thought he might surprise me with a bouquet of flowers at the restaurant, but all I expected was a nice meal with our beloved families. When we arrived in the banquet room and turned the corner, we were met by a giant crowd of our nearest and dearest yelling, "Surprise!" I was completely shocked; I have no idea what I said or did, but I started to focus in on the individual faces, and I cried. I couldn't believe that these amazing people had taken the time (several of them very significant amounts of time) to come and celebrate with us. There were over twenty people in attendance, and I adore every single one of them.

Not only were we surrounded by the people who matter the most to us in this entire world, but my amazing mother-in-law, who fell and broke her wrist earlier in the week, had arranged for a professional photographer to capture the event, as well as five gorgeous floral arrangements and incredible vanilla and chocolate cupcakes.

I could barely sit to eat my meal because I was so blown away by the night, and we made the rounds to every person, just like our wedding reception. Those who could make it came back to our house afterward, and we sat and laughed late into the night.

Five years ago I married my best friend. My One and Only. He makes every day worth living, and I could not survive without him. I cannot wait for the next five, ten, twenty, a lifetime.

I love you so much, Kyle. You don't even know. Thank you for giving me one of the best nights of my entire life. You're the most incredible person I've ever met.

 

07071710 from Katherine Purple on Vimeo.