You Know | Guest Post - Katie Rickert

You know it's love when she's wearing a old Connecticut Fire t-shirt, hair in a mess, clanging around the kitchen making what she hopes to be the best dinner of your life (but in reality will probably be burnt and in need of hot sauce to mask the flavor) and you can't take your eyes off of her. You know it's love when she squeaks in sheer joy at book after book in Barnes and Noble, unable to decide between any of the 14 options in her hand and all you can think is how cute she is when she wrinkles her nose with each new title. It's love when you wouldn't want to experience the bad or the ugly with anyone else no matter how stubborn she is.

It's love when he smiles and laughs, shaking his head, conveying it really will all be ok. And not a word was spoken. 

You know it's love when she kicks off her Coach flats, grabs the nearest light up sword and embarks a war cry on her favorite 3 and 5 year old. It's even deeper love when you realize she's having just as much fun as those little ones are. It's love when she's convinced that ice cream fixes everything and attempts to glare at your over the peace offering bowl but really smiles more with each bite. 

It's love when he leaves you cards just because he knows that your heart is enlarged by words. 

You'll know it's love when you don't remember falling asleep, let alone drooling, but more so that it was the best sleep you've had in weeks. It's love when she prays for those who've done nothing but hurt her, getting stronger rather than remaining broken. It's love when she knows nothing about cars (like the time she told you there was a sailboat light on her dash when the car got hot) but she patiently endures your attempts to explain the importance of oil changes and tire tread. It's love when your weaknesses pale in comparison to your strengths. 

It's love when he calls from a satellite phone in interior Alaska to tell you you're cute. And he misses you. And he could lose his job for using a government phone to convey those simple things. 

You know it's love when it isn't about what the future holds, but rather what this moment holds, knowing if your foundation isn't strong, the future isn't important. You know it's love when the other's simple existence makes your dreams reality, if only in that you aren't alone. It's love because no matter what life holds, you know who's holding you. 

The author and her husband, Ian.