Matt and Ashley

Just after we became engaged, Matt had to leave for a trip to Dallas TX. He went with his sister for a IPS training trip. We both felt like he should go and spend this last trip enjoying some time with his sister and seeing some of his friends that he does not get to see very often. That was the longest time we have been separated so far and it was hard. While he was gone we spent our lunches on the phone and anytime that Matt was not busy with training sessions or discussions, on the phone. Everyone said that he was almost always on the phone. My family said the same thing about me…:-) We talked about all kinds of things and had a great time, though it would have been better if he and I were face to face. Though I think it created a habit for us now that we are married. We love to talk to each other on the way home from work. While he was gone he started a tradition for us and our relationship. He sent me gifts and cards, that had a theme of purple. The first one was a card, that was decorated with a purple heart and it said “I Love You”. It was very sweet and….purple. He had scheduled to have a company send me cards, a day apart, and had them put in the card what he wanted said. When we talked after the cards, he kept telling me that there were more gifts and that I would like them all. He knew me too well, already. I love surprises, but can not stand not trying to figure them out. The second day I received another card that was purple. I was so surprised…I could not believe that he had thought to give me cards, my favorite thing. I love cards, letters, emails and anything given to me in written word. The Third gift was purple tulips. They were beautiful!!! The next best thing to cards, are flowers. I was shocked when not only did I get cards twice, but I also got flowers with a card. They lasted until he got back and I saved some of the flowers in my journal. They were perfect!!! The day that he got back, I received the last card, he had personally written everything in it. It was beautiful and I loved every bit of it. I love when he writes notes. Matt is very good at writing. The day that he got back he told me that anytime he leaves, our theme would be purple. That he would make sure I got something with purple in it. I like purple even more then I used to!!! Since then, he has only had to spend one day away from me and he made sure I got a gorgeous card that was purple. We have started a tradition and it has meant a great deal to me . That he loved me enough to know that I would love cards and that when he was gone they would remind me of him and his love for me. Matt is an extremely thoughtful man.