E M B
Hope Valley
February 18, 1919
My Sweet Husband,
I am floating and have been since our wedding, four days ago. To tell you the truth, my feet have barely touched the ground since you found me at our bridge and we shared our first kiss. I have asked myself so many times why it took me so long to open my heart and fill it with the love I have for you? But that just invites regret and all I want now is to revel in the "what is" and the "what will be". I am just so happy that we are husband and wife now and that we are a family with our son. Our wedding day not only sealed our bond as a couple, but the adoption sealed our lives as a family. Thank you for making both dreams come true on one special day.
And it truly was a special day. All the anticipation leading to the walk down the aisle to you, where you waited for me with that smile of yours, that embraced me before I got there, was worth it. There are so many to thank for helping to make our day one to remember. But to tell you the truth, I would have been fine with you, me, Jack, Joseph, and Bill in the barn in our everyday clothes. I just wanted us to become an official family. But although I truly mean it, I am so glad that Rosie gave us the over-the-top event that we could share with so many that have meant so much in our lives. I will never forget the ceremony but also the dancing and dining and all of the warm wishes at the reception.
And as we left to head off on our trip, how you talked to Jack in really your first official act as father, you melted my heart. So, this is love, I thought to myself, not just my friendship with you and my passion for you, but watching every day the person that you are with others and all that you will be to our son.
And then what can I say about our wedding trip to Union City other than it was perfect. You are, my love, such a romantic and it was a wonderful three days to say the least. Lovely dates with fine dining, dancing, and theatre, but also the comradery of shopping, chatting and laughing together. There were delightful, grand gestures and small, treasured moments.
You planned so much in advance, even Rosie participated there, but the spontaneous little moments were beautiful too. Some of my favorites were those that we shared that were new because we are now husband and wife. For example, falling asleep in your arms and waking up to see that sleepy morning smile when you first think about opening your eyes. Or seeing your gorgeous hair all tousled is definitely high on my list. And getting ready for an outing and having you help me button my dress, brush my hair or help fasten my jewelry. It was indeed a weekend filled with sweet moments and firsts.
I am so glad that we waited to be intimate until we were man and wife as it made it just that much more special to form that bond as soulmates. You had me going places I barely knew existed, in ways that I had not even imagined. The joining of hearts and souls in utter perfection. And you were ever the perfect gentleman; I realize it is not that you are "being a gentleman" it is just who you are. You have an innately caring core that is present at all times even in the most vulnerable and intimate ones. I am lucky to have such a husband. One that adores me for who I am both as a person and as a woman. I don't think I have to tell you how much this woman appreciated you these past few days. You truly seem to find pleasure in my pleasure; this has always been the case but certainly no less in the most intimate moments as well.
Lucas, I look forward to our journey together. The wedding and weekend were so wonderful but I am so glad to be home to start our life as a family too.
Your loving wife and soulmate
Elizabeth
P. S. I am attaching my vows to this letter so that they make their way into our journal.
Elizabeth's vows to Lucas on the occasion of their wedding
February 14, 1919
Hope Valley
Lucas, I am so overjoyed to be standing with you in our special place about to become your wife. Our journey here has been long and winding, but it just makes the destination that much sweeter. And while the journey took a while, the destination was never in question. My heart was yours at our first meeting; you were the man for me and my heart knew it even if I didn't. The seed was planted and nurtured deep inside me for these past few years just waiting for my heart to open again.
I know that you believe in finding your soulmate, that one person who completes you and can bring you true happiness. In that context, my soul met yours that day, I knew within minutes that we were destined to be great friends and I was not mistaken. You are first of all my friend and that friendship laid the foundation for our story. The love story that is being written as we speak, and it is a beautiful story already. It makes me so excited for the chapters that life has in store for us as a couple and for our life together as a family. You are the perfect man for me and you will be the most perfect of fathers. I am truly blessed. You said to me once that where your soul ends mine begins; today we join together as one as our souls unite.