Growing up, there was not a single person on earth more amazing than my dad. I have watched him rearrange work responsibilities, personal priorities, etc. JUST to make me happy. So, it goes without saying that these are the qualities I wanted in my husband for our children. To say that I am proud of my husband and the legacy we are building together would be an understatement. This is why today I honor you, my husband. Very little mesmerizes me more than watching my husband, Brandon, be the most committed and dedicated dad he knows how to be. Every single time I see you guide them and lay a foundation upon which they will build upon truly makes my heart flutter.
Prior to being a mother, I was not the most tenderhearted person. I wasn’t mean … I was just one of those people that didn’t get too attached. But something in you began to change that before we ever discussed children. I learned to look at the world and the people in it with an open heart and open mind. I discovered in me so much more love, passion, and fire than I ever knew I had. You, Brandon, helped me become a better person. You and Josiah showed me that there was happiness beyond climbing the corporate ladder and making investments. And once Corrinne entered our lives, it was as if every single cloud was covered by a rainbow.
While being a mother is truly exhilarating, the extra shot in my margarita has been watching you be a father and do it naturally and joyfully. There is literally nothing that you won’t do to see your offspring happy, whole, and healthy. Of course, being a parent comes with its own set of challenges, yet you are able to maintain optimism at every turn. Your sense of pride when it comes to rearing our children never ceases to amaze us. And for that, I am truly grateful and blessed that you chose me to come along for the ride.
Now let me be clear, there are days your play literally sends my nerves into a tailspin. I watch them giggle as you flip them or toss them onto the mat and cringe every single time. Now the entire time they are giggling, your smile could literally illuminate the sky during a total lunar eclipse.
One thing we can always count on is that regardless if you have been away for ten minutes or ten hours when they hear the keys in the door, they immediately yell “DADDY!” They run to you as though they have not seen you in years. They allow you to release the weight of the day into their hugs. And then as if you have not been on your feet for 12 hours, you begin to play with them with what little energy you have remaining. Many days I see the exhaustion in your eyes when they ask for one more movie or another round of jokes. But none of that ever keeps you from at least starting the movie (because we all know you will be snoring ten minutes in).
I guess I said all of this to say that if you were not the father you are, I would not be the mother that I am. I would not be able to tell you how happy I am to watch your joys in parenting. I would not have the privilege of sharing all of their accomplishments with you. I would miss seeing you step up to bat time and time again to meet their needs. Because of this, you are so much more than the man I gave my heart to. So much more than my husband, my best friend, and my confidant. You are the father to our children that my dad was to me. And for that, I am so proud of you and the legacy you are building for our family. I am honored to watch you and am sure that I will always get butterflies while watching.
Cheers to you for being the best father you know to be and loving me enough to let me tag along.
