bear hugs & love

Those are the stairs my love walked down Friday morning with a tired smile on his face. And that's me trying to take a picture of me smiling without anyone noticing, because that's awkward to take pictures of yourself at Starbucks.

I woke up at 5:30 in the morning anticipating the next three hours to fly by. His grandpa and I had ourselves a date at the Waffle House by the airport talking about running a business and international traveling for gas stations in America. We talked until two hours had passed and made our way up to the baggage area in Little Rock. I sat there in front of the stairs for half an hour waiting for the moment I could see Landon and his family. The goofy smile on my face probably made me look like the biggest idiot in the room, but I didn't care. At 9:00, I saw all four of their faces on the television screen and saw them going down the stairs a few seconds later.

His brothers eyes lit up and ran towards me to give me the biggest bear hug he could manage. My heart couldn't help but smile just as big as the smile on my face. Landon just looked at me until he managed to step forward, hug me, and whisper in my ear that he would never leave me again. I wouldn't let him go and we stood there for a while until his brother came in between us to give me another hug.

Before we both had to go to work, we had a chance to spend a little time together. He looked me in the eyes and told me he loved me, and I looked in his eyes and repeated the phrase back. I meant it with all my heart, or as much as I know how to. This is just the beginning. Love grows over time.

Friday was a really, really good day.