To Have and to Hold

I am not quite sure what these next 40 days will bring our way. I know that these are the last 40 remaining days of my single life (albeit not really "single")
I am a few short weeks away from making that lifelong commitment to Mike. We are going to stand up and out loud promise to have and hold one another until death do us part. What does that really mean??
To have..... when I need someone to be on my side.... when I feel the need to do for someone... when I cannot think beyond myself... when I feel as though no one loves me... when I want someone to hang out with... when I need someone to bounce my ideas off of... when I cannot sleep and need to share my thoughts... when I grow old and move through life changes... when I hurt.... when I have love to share.... I will have him. And from that day on... he will have me.
Some day our family will have grown and moved on to start lives of their own... we will still have each other. When dreams need to be shared, when times are bleak... we will be together. I am now pretty clear just what it means "to have". I have so much!
To hold... when it's cold.... when one of us is weak.... when we need to feel safe... when hurt lands on our lap.... when I feel the need to be reassured.... when we are alone.... when we need comfort.... when sharing in life's joys.... I will have his arms to fall into... his hand in mine, his kiss on my head. I have not gotten past the butterflies when Mike pulls me in for a snuggly hug. I am at home there.
I feel particularly loving these past few weeks... I look at Mike and see that our future IS bright... it is reaching out to pull us along.... and when I say my vows to my husband.... my heart will have every one of its dreams completed and I will have to hold my chest to keep it from jumping right out of me!!!! I am happy and it is because he loves me.