HEART OUT

Hello lovelies! This is gonna be an emotional post, so brace yourselves. It’s my third year wedding anniversary today, so I’m a little bit of a lot emo. If you know me well, you’ll know that I’m extremely sentimental and a hopeless romantic, think the Notebook ( and if you don’t know this movie then you need to re-evaluate your life, ha ha) and then take it up a notch. I’m that extreme!

I’ve been together with the Love of My Life for nearly eight years, it sure feels like the other day when we went on our first date ( which is a good thing). I can still remember what we he wore, how late he was, which restaurant we went to, the conversation we had and how much I never wanted it to end. Listen, from that day I had fallen, and as ridiculous as it sounds I knew that I was ready to spend the rest of my life with him. Fast forward a few years and now we’re married. The Bible is truth upon truth, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Boy was I speaking what was in my heart to God, ha ha. I think He was like ” Ok, ok, I’ve heard you, I’ll make it happen.” ha ha! I can’t say it enough, it’s still the best decision I ever made. Sometimes I take for granted how blessed I am and I don’t appreciate him as much as I should.

BUT…. today dear husband I want you to know that you are everything and more to me. Most of the time words fail me when it comes to him, not because I married a perfect human being ( cause they don’t exist), just because when it comes to character, heart, beliefs, values….. I WON! My husband has a heart of gold, like no for real. Like the type that would be ready to strip of his clothing at a click of a finger for a total stranger if they happened to ask. He’s taught me what selflessness really is, he’s willingness to always over-extend himself to others and for others still blows my mind. His heart is always for people, to hear him speak ill of others is not just rare, it truthfully hardly ever happens. He always finds a way to see the best in people, even when it’s so obvious at how much a person has hurt him, oftentimes doing so  to his own detriment. That Christlike heart makes me realize how blessed I am and more importantly how safe my heart is in his hands. He has seen the worst in me, my ugliness, the stuff that’s not on show on social media, but he still chooses to love me even harder. His patience never runs out, ( unless I’m shopping ) it just keeps going and I’ve seen that even in the way he handles our baby boy. His kindness, oh his kindness, I could tell a 1000 stories on just that alone. As a husband, he has been my head, my covering, my equal, my supporter, my partner and my cheerleader. He’s given me his chest to cry on so many times,  wiped away so many of my tears ( none that he caused), his encouraged me and prayed for me time and time again when hopelessness and fear wanted to overcome me. He’s carried me and seen me through some of my darkest hours and days. Carried me in his heart, thoughts and even better through prayer. His mindfulness of me, my heart, opinion, feelings and needs echoes through eternity. I appreciate his inclusiveness of me, even in things that I can possibly add no value to. I know how valued, loved and appreciated I am just from the little things he does.

How gentle he is when I’ve wronged him, so quick to forgive, forgetful of my mistakes and he always turns to love. This makes me fall more and more in love with you! You’ve not only taught me, but practically shown me how to love like Christ, and you do it all so gracefully, seeking nothing in return.

I want you to know, I would choose you over and over again. It’s one of the best feelings in the world knowing that I married well, actually I married up. Baby, I can’t thank you enough for choosing God, cause in doing so you also chose me. Your high regard for our Father and your good opinion of Him, has forever changed my personal relationship with Him. Your walk with Him is not public, boastful or to prove how much you Know Him. It’s personal, and I really appreciate that about you. You’re a  man of  a few words, you keep to yourself and  I’ve learnt to love and appreciate that about you. I’ve not always understood this about you, but I get it now. I love how unaffected you are about what people think and say about you, that dearest husband makes me want to give you five rounds of sex on the spot, ha ha!  You stay in your own lane with regards to everything in your life and I really respect that about you.

Thank you My love for teaching me that life is meant to be lived, to merely exist is not the what God intended and thanks to you I’m doing that. Thank You for making me laugh, for teaching me how to remain positive and how to intentionally see God’s goodness in everything. Thank you for teaching me how to let go and no to take life so seriously. We spend so much time together that your easy-going, somewhat adventurous personality is slowly starting to rub off on me. You are fun to be around and in all honesty, my favourite person in the whole world! I’m a better women because of you Mlondolozi Thinasibonga Shandu, I really am. May God give us a 100 more years to love, inspire and showcase His glory together. I can’t wait to carry another seed of yours!

I could go on forever, but we need to get our day started….. I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU! SOOO MUCH!

Oh, before I  dash. Guys, this beautiful neckpiece is handmade buy a guy named Bless. Mikayla and I did this shoot at Neighbourgoods market and he asked if we could do a collab on the spot. It’s as if he knew how incomplete my outfit would’ve been. I’m hoping to do more looks with his pieces, because his collection is breathtaking. The business name is Nutcase study, please check him out on Instagram. He has such a beautiful mind and spirit about him. I look forward to working with him in future projects. Thank you so much Bless for allowing me to model your exquisite and unique craftmanship.

Have a lovely day!

xx

NUTCASE STUDY neckpiece | TOPSHOP swimsuit | GUILLOTINE wide leg pants | ZARA heels

Photography by Mikayla Birkholtz

xx