It's hard to believe that two years ago today the love of my life took his first breath in heaven. In commemoration, I will give you a peek into the love my husband and I shared.

In 2011, less than a year into his battle with stage IV lung cancer, Chris was in the hospital on Valentine’s Day recovering from an almost non-existent immune system from chemo. I had just gotten over a cold but still wore a mask to prevent breathing any germs on him.

I gave him a heart-shaped box of chocolates decorated with the words “Faith, Hope, Love.” Those words described exactly what we had. Here is the letter that I included in my Valentine's Day card to him:

All the things that have happened in our family in the last year are not things that I’d wish for anyone. But yet I feel lucky because of what has happened. It’s made me appreciate you more, and it has made me thankful for every moment I get to spend with you—whether it’s cuddling with you or just sitting in a waiting room or hospital room together, not speaking a word.

I always felt I wasn’t a strong person emotionally and could never handle situations such as the deaths of our dogs and my father—all within seven months. Then add a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis for the love of my life. It has made me realize that I am strong—but only with the Lord’s arms wrapped around me to hold me up when my knees just want to buckle. I couldn’t have gotten through this last year without you and without the Lord by my side.

I often wonder if I’m the one the Lord is trying to reach through your ordeal. All I know is, I am now in prayer a lot more often and enjoy being in the Word every morning. Thank you for showing me the Way by your example. Thank you for being a wonderful husband and father and a great role model for our boys. I am truly blessed to call you “mine."

If there were nothing else but our love for each other, I would still have all I need. Wherever life leads us, just being with you is all I want.

I have faith that God will heal your earthly body. I have hope that we will grow old together. And I will love you for my entire life.

I love you, and I thank God for you.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

—1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV