Summer Jake

There is a big apricot tree in front of the house I grew up in. A little white swing hangs from the branches with a tiny inscription on the back left corner reading, "Madeline's Swing". I earned the swing from spending hours and hours there. It became mine when I let Jake sit with me.

I fell in love with a summer version of Jake. Tan skin, wiffle ball tournaments, bowling excursions, listening to Coldplay and Bon Jovi, and Parowan walks. One of the sweetest aspects of being married is having someone to fall in love with every season. I'm looking forward to our first summer as newlyweds and I still remember the sweet summer we had when I first picked him. One specific summer memory comes to mind.

We spent most of our summer evenings together outside. One day it was raining. Hard. It was a beautiful summer storm, the kind that makes the whole town smell good when it's over. Despite the rain, Jake and I went outside and sat down on the swing. We sat in the rain and talked for hours about our favorite first day of school, most embarrassing moments, and favorite memories.

As it starts to get warmer I remember that summer. I fall in love with him all over again.

Today Jake hugged me tight and told me I smell like Summer Maddie: sunscreen and gum. "Hi Summer Maddie" he said, "It's been a while". It has. I'm completely in love with my sweetheart. Maybe that's why my life is so happy.