How Do I Love Thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

I have been working on scanning pictures of a friend's son who passed away at the age of 19 on Elijah's birthday. Going thru a mom's photos of her child really got me thinking of the frailty of life. We are here for such a short time. Of the fact that my time on this earth is in God's hands. That I need to cherish and treasure every day that God grants me with my children. That I need to treasure, love and serve my husband.
As I was scanning, I got my wedding album and started scanning our wedding photos too- Ten and a half years went by in the blink of an eye! We are such different people from that first wedding photo! We have a much larger family and I wouldn't trade the path that God chose for us for anything. He has taught us more about Himself. He has showed us our selfishness. He has humbled us. He has blessed us. He has revealed His Gospel to us on a much more "real" level. He has changed us and we are better for it.
As I attend the funeral for Kade tomorrow, I trust God will continue to show me more about Himself and make me treasure and invest and serve in love the people in my life even more.