Brad came home last week with a copy of Real Simple for me. He knew I loved to read it and that I don't get my own at home, so he signed me up for a subscription.

I've been thinking about this a lot since it happened.

We've been married for almost three years, but have lived together for almost six years and dated another year in addition to that. Our relationship has changed a lot during that time.

It took the magazine subscription to make me realize that. Traditionally, if he wanted to surprise me with something it would have been a bouquet of flowers or a fancy dinner with a nice bottle of wine. Brad excels at romance. I loved those things; I really did.

But, I love the magazine subscription, too. He knows who I am and wants me to be happy. That means a lot to me. It was also a nice reminder that I need to do something nice for him.

"Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable."
-----Bruce Lee