The reasons why I love you...

What can I say that I haven’t already? A lot, actually.

Katie, you have given me something great. Something few others have received and none to the extent of what I have: your love. I could not have expected such a great gift in a million years. Why did you chose me? Well, I hope there are a few reasons, ha, but for whatever reason you may be thinking, thank you for that.

It is so mutually gratifying to have a relationship like we do. I couldn’t fathom anyone loving anyone else quite like I do you, but then I think that you must feel the same way. We are so in love, Katie, and that is a very special thing. True love doesn’t always happen, even to the closest of couples, but I honestly believe we have it. How can we not? We feel this way for a reason.

1000 reasons. One. Thousand. Wow, and we are still counting. It’s funny reading my letter to you for number 100. I said we would eventually make it to 1000. I remember thinking, “That must be a long time from now.” But you know what? It didn’t take nearly as long as I once thought. The reasons just keep coming, and before long we have this monumental thing. I hope you feel special, Katie, I wouldn’t do it if you weren’t. I want you to more than just “know” that I care for you; I want you to see it.

And what do I see?

“I see you. Everywhere. Maybe not always literally, but you are everywhere in my life. As long as you stay so deep in my heart, I get to take you everywhere I go. And that means forever. In this life and the next, you will be there—by my side, in my heart, and on my mind. I want you to feel this way to; I want you to see me everywhere. I don’t like to think about the past before you, and I don’t like to think about the future without you. Let us keep each other close, together, forever.”

Baby, I love you, and I cannot wait to see you another 1000 reasons from now.

Love can be the most exciting thing on Earth. Even when we are doing the most mundane thing imaginable, such as watching crappy television, just feeling the warmth of our love is quite astonishing. I feel that’s the key to a successful relationship; recognizing how awesome things are, even when what we are doing isn’t that great.

But you can also take a look at the flip side. Sometimes the best part about our relationship is the simple matters that cement the occasional big events together. Grocery shopping, doing laundry, reading the internet—some people may find these things boring. But in reality, we bond while performing these tasks.

“Though a week long tropical vacation spices things up between us, it is the real life events that keep me so entwined with you. So let us remember as we reflect on our trip to South Carolina, though we may not always be the most exciting people in the world, to us, our love is the most exciting thing in the universe.”

And yes, I really feel this way. I’ve never become bored with you nor will I ever.

“Love is a puzzle; it's not all laid out in front of you. You have to find all the pieces and put them together before you can see the whole picture. For the longest time, my heart was not complete. There were many missing pieces, and I thought I'd never be able to complete it. When I found you, everything fell into place. You complete my heart. You allow me to see love.”

With every reason posted, it’s as if another page in a one-a-day calendar is pulled. It gives us reference to just how long our love has endured. I enjoy spending time clicking through this website and reading these reasons handfuls at a time. Each one sparks its own special memory in my head, and I’m sure there’s quite a few that put images in yours too.

But when you put numbers to the reasons, and days to the numbers, it’s a record of the times we’ve shared. 700 plus days of love! Absolutely incredible! Sometimes it seems as if it has rushed by, and at others it seems like I’ve known you for a lifetime. Regardless, I’m happy spending the rest of my days at your side.

Even as I look at a real calendar, I can’t help but to think of you… Dec 25th: Another beautiful Christmas with my beautiful girlfriend. Feb 14th: Celebrating Valentine’s Day with my baby. May 24th: Our 2 year and 6 month anniversary. These are just a few of the many days I find so special all because of you.

So no matter what day it is, a special occasion or just another rainy Monday, I always want you to remember this:

“I cherish the time I get with you on this Earth. I celebrate even the most dreary and boring days if I just get to spend them with you. My day isn’t complete if I don’t get to see or talk to you… I just cannot live without you! I am fortunate to have had the privilege of spending what time I have with you, and feel even more lucky knowing there are thousands of days ahead. Lets always appreciate the past and welcome the future!”

I love you baby, and if this was a one-a-day calendar, I’d want to litter the floor with the countless pages that are yet to come!

Adulation, affection, allegiance, amity. These words all have something in common… and no, not because they all start with an “A”. They are all synonyms for the word, love. I’ve been trying to expand my vocabulary ever since I created your very first reason. I have so many different and amazing feelings about you, us, and our love that I’ve actually researched how to express more of it. I do this not so that I simply don’t repeat myself (as many reasons bear repeating), but so that I can truly let you in on my deepest and most special feelings.

When it comes down to it, I realize that it’s not just the words I research: I’ve done so on myself quite diligently. I am a changed man, and sometimes I need to step back and survey what it is about me that has changed. I’d never known true love before I met you, heck, I’d never really known myself before that either. Having you in my life pushes me to greater and bigger things, and knowing that you bring that to me is such an awesome recollection.

People have told me that I am more mature, more selfless, and more thoughtful than I ever was in the past. Does this just naturally happen over time? Or does this happen with the aid of a catalyst? The answer is obvious: you’ve been the reason each and every time. My family and the closest people to me have let you know on more than one occasion.

“It’s a bit humbling to know that you really do affect my life to such a great degree. It makes me appreciate you all the more. For every instance where I say “I love you” think of it as a thank you for everything you have done for me. And the best part is you don’t do it to change who I am… I don’t even think you consciously do it. It’s just something you do to me—something that draws the very best of me out.”

It’s for that reason that I know I’d be an empty soul if you were to ever be out of my life—even for a short period of time.

Do you know how much I love you? Did you know that every time I wish for something—anything, I wish for you and I to be together forever? I bet you didn’t know that. There’s all these little things that pop into my head that I never get a chance to tell you right away. Little things that make me smile. It’s why I’m glad we have this system so that I get a chance to explain to you all of these tiny milestones that bring me closer to you.

And we’ve celebrated 500 thus far. 500 individual ways that remind me how lucky I’ve got it. Reading them all over again gives me a chill up my spine. We are still a relatively new couple compared to many happy relationships, and when we get to such a large number, it puts me into disbelief. How can we experience so many things yet still have so much left? Wow. How cool is that?

I know 500 reasons is a huge deal, but when you think about it isn’t 501 even bigger? And what about 502… even bigger! I want to rush all the way to 1,000! It just equals more days I get to spend with you. You recently asked if I ever get bored with this. Are you joking? I don’t know how I could be bored with this relationship. Heck, I don’t know how I could ever get bored with you. You’re such a complex woman with so many unbelievable things to offer, I haven’t even tipped the iceberg. You know how curious I am. Don’t you think I plan on sticking around to explore the rest of your amazing personality?

I just want you to know that since I am sticking around that I plan on being in love with you forever. Not so much “plan” as it will just being. I’ve never gotten bored, never fallen out of love, never regretted a second of my incredible time with you. I know all of this is known, but I also know how nice it is to hear it once in a while. So what else would you like to hear? What about reason 500?

“I see many awesome things in my future. A career, a new house, kids, a Ferrari… ok, so maybe not a Ferrari. But I don’t need a sexy car when I have a sexy woman. And that woman has never changed from my dreams. It has always been you! You’re like a tradition in my life. Someone I want to share with others, and keep dear to me lifelong. When I dream about all those great things in my future, it’s always right beside you. A new career to support you. A new house with a wrap-around porch and swing just for you. Kids who look and act just like you. (Hell, maybe even a Ferrari with you in the passenger seat.) But I know it will take a lot of hard work and dedication. But when you think about it, isn’t it all a labor of love? I love you.”

So you know what to do from here. Just be you! I’ll love you for it forever. Promise!

Your reasons; they're words, sentences, and paragraphs. But they are also stories. Not just stories that we have written, but also stories that we have told through our actions and our love. It's as if we slowly add a little to "our" story on a daily basis. It may be me writing the words, but it is you who is communicating them to me.

I want our story to be epic. I want it to be long and fulfilling yet never boring. I want there to be twists and turns which we never expect. I want to be the hero that sweeps you off your feet as we live happily ever after. Our story can be this and more if we always love each other like we do today.

And with each chapter in our story ending every hundred days, it amazes me to see all that we have celebrated. What seems like a fantasy is really non-fiction—everything I thought was impossible before is now possible with you.

“You always hear the stories or see the movies: Some unimaginable thing happens and brings two people together and they live happily ever after. It’s never like that in real life… or is it? You make my life seem like more than just reality. It’s like I’m living a story which is too good to be true. But it is true! Just as true as our love.”

365 days. Or is it 356? In any case, it’s been an entire year of reasons. I for one am impressed. Not that I could actually come up with that many, no. I’m impressed because of what it has become. I didn’t intend for this to be such a big deal, really, I was just complimenting you on a daily basis. It seemed to have spawned into a much greater ordeal.

And your reason for today?

"I love how you count on your daily reason. I love how you are excited to refresh your browser to see the latest update. Mostly, I love how you’ve yet to become spoiled with it and demand a reason a day. It’s as if they still mean something. And they do!"

It doesn’t seem like too long ago when I started the list, but when I look at the number we’ve gotten to, it’s kind of an awesome achievement. I can’t wait to see where we end up in years down the line; 1,000? 2,000? 10,000? Wow, can you imagine that many reasons? I can… in fact, I’ve probably thought of at least that many last week.

I think it’s great. I enjoy having just that one more thing to celebrate in our relationship. I don’t think any other couple really commemorates their relationship like we do. It keeps it new and fun, but most of all it keeps it full of reasons to continue loving you.

I’ve been writing constantly for the longest time, trying to craft the perfect thing to say to you. Nothing just seems to capture exactly what I feel. I have too much to say and not enough time to tell it all. Sadly, a lifetime is just not enough.

A guy can feel a little dizzy with all these crazy emotions flying around. If there was a single word to capture it all, I would let you know. So what can I say? Unfortunately, not enough words have been invented yet. I could make up words, but that’s just silly. So I shall try and convey my message as best I can.

Why is it that whenever I wake up I am compelled to scream “thank you?” Why is it whenever you are sad, I just want to jump on top of a table and tell you that I love you? I am honestly frustrated when I try to answer these questions. Love can be complicated, and you are a tricky girl. But there has to be a simple answer, right?

No! There isn’t a simple answer because we don’t let it. Our love is ever evolving, never sitting still to collect on the bottom. It’s like a song, a dance, a movie, an emotion, and a fever all crammed into one package. Sure there’s the lows, but it’s the highs which keep us forever entwined.

Baby, I want to thank you. I want to thank your for everything. I want to keep thanking you forever. You are so good to me, and it keeps getting better. So what is this message I am trying to convey?

"I have been a person of doubt and skepticism at times, but for some reason I cannot possible think of a reason that you aren’t the one for me. Sometimes the scariest part of any situation is not knowing what’s coming next. But that feeling isn’t scary with you, it’s invited. I want the spontaneity and actually I crave it. And you deliver. But there’s also this feeling of longevity—of certainty. I have no reason to see anything but you in my future. And that is awesome."

So once again Katie, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Another 100 days—another 100 reasons. It all started as a list of reasons why I liked you, but no longer is that the case. No. These now are the reasons why I love you, why I always will love you, why you take my breath away, why it still tickles my throat to say good night, and why I think about no other person. These are the reasons I want to take on life.

I’ve said many variations of “I love you” for nearly eight months. No matter how many times I say it, it cannot illustrate my passion for you. That is why I also couple it with reasons. I want you to know exactly how I feel, and exactly what makes me feel this way. And what is it that I feel?

I feel everything anew. Life is full of meaning and my senses are exploring new ways of viewing the world. I feel every emotion with you—the ups, the downs—but no matter where they lead me, I always find my way back to you. Back to where I belong.

Katie, I believe we have found a perfect median in our relationship. We are fully comfortable with each other, yet at the same time we still get nervous and giddy. I treat our recent dates as they were our first; my heart still races when I drive up Timber Meadows. I know you better than anyone else, but learn new things daily.

As I remark on how strong our love is, and how great our relationship is, I want you to know my 200th reason for loving you. But please know that just because it may have more words, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is more important. Every last reason—from the silly to the serious; the mundane to the eventful—means the world to me.

"I cannot actually recall a time you weren’t in my mind. Even as I slip into sleep, you are with me every step of the way. I know that not only have you been in my thoughts, but through this you have been in every one of my actions. You are my inspiration, my light, even the very essence of my life. I know that without you I am lost, and it is not something I ever intend to become. For you will be my love, always and forever."

Katie, for the past 4 months I have given you a reason a day for why I like you. When I look back at it all, I realize something: I have never been in a situation where I could truly give this many reasons for being with someone. But this isn’t “many” when compared to the countless other reason I haven’t written you yet.

To me, these reasons aren’t randomly chosen phrases; I put a lot of thought and deliberation into each and every one of them. With that in mind, you should also know that it doesn’t take me much to come up with one.

You are such an amazing person--every little single thing you do drives me crazy. Whether it's you’re stellar personality or dazzling good looks, you have it all, Katie--and you give them to me. You share with me all of these remarkable features that I’ve never seen before in a person.

So I come at a crossroads. Which reason should I give for lucky number 100? Does it involve your smile? Humor? Love? Should it be a special one? No, it can’t be—they are all special. I search my heart for the perfect reason to give to you, and then it hits me. The perfect reason.

"You are you. You are the person I am meant to be with. You are the person who found me when I was lost. Who helped me when I was in need. You are the greatest person I have ever had the privilege to meet, and you are mine. We share a love, a heart, and a soul. I have never doubted “us” and never will."

Katie, whether or not you want it, I am here to stay. You will one day receive reason number 200, 500, 1000, etc. As long as you stay the same great person you are today and were the day I met you, you will always give me reasons to love you.