My Other Half

Well, it’s Valentine’s Day…and my goal is to hit two birds with one stone.  I need to blog, but I also need to express to my Valentine how incredibly special that he is to me and our little family, so why not do both at the same time?

What I want to preface before you start reading is that this will be a highlight reel.  I caution you as you read my letter to my husband to know that we are in a good season of life right now.  But that doesn’t mean we haven’t had tough times, that we haven’t experienced difficulties in our marriage, that some days we have had to fight like hell to keep going, that we’ve had to swallow our pride, make sacrifices on behalf of the other person and learn how to apologize and forgive.  Nothing about marriage is easy.  It’s messy and it’s beautiful all at the same time.

Marie Photography

Brendan,

The other day someone asked me how I did it.  “How are you working full-time, being a mother full-time, participating in other activities, and going to school full-time?”  My response was simple…my husband.  Well, a lot of late nights…but definitely my husband. 

This new season of marriage, now that we have added Brooks to the mix, is different.  A good different.  We are more of a team.  A unit.  We cannot function without one another.  From the moment Brooks was born you have been fully invested and hands-on.  You’re fully present with us and always doing everything you can to help out.  I appreciate that more than you’ll ever know.  I know that it is rare.  I hear and see so many women doing it by themselves.  I can’t express to you what it means to know that I’m not in this alone.  That you have and will continue to provide what Brooks and I need.  You change diapers, you give baths, you sing songs, you read books, you play, you feed…you are all in. 

You’re the best father!  I knew you’d be great, but man I had no idea how great you’d be!  I sometimes sit back and watch you with Brooks as you chase him around the house as he screams and runs away, how you read the bible to him every Saturday morning as he “listens” while playing with his toys, or when you vacuum a thousand times a week with him because you know that is his favorite thing to do… and it just brings tears to my eyes.  Brooks LOVES his daddy!  Every evening he squeals with delight and runs to the door when he hears the garage door go up, knowing that daddy is finally home! 

My heart is overwhelmed with how much love you have for him and how intentional you are with him.  As I pray for Brooks and his future, I know he is going to have a great example of a godly man, husband, and father.  He is and will continue to learn so much from you and who you are.  My favorite time as a family is bed time.  I love giving him a bath together, getting him ready for bed together, but my most favorite is turning out the lights, sitting in his chair, as you kneel down in front of us, wrap your arms around the both of us and pray over us.  A lump wells in my throat as you whisper, “Daddy loves you.  Mommy loves you.  Jesus loves you.  Good night.”

I want you to know that I never want to take you for granted.  I could not be who I am or do what I do without you!  You are my rock.  You are my encourager.  You are my defender.  In life, I have learned pretty quickly that I can’t be all things at all times and when I have a million things on my plate, something has to give…something has to go.  For me, that has been the grocery shopping, housework, and errands.  I have needed you more than ever and you have stepped up and filled the voids left by my crazy schedule.  You’ve happily taken them on and never complain.  You keep our life afloat!  Every time I try to show or tell you my appreciation, you simply respond with, “That’s what I’m supposed to do!”  So, again, thank you, for what you have been and continue to be for us! 

I will never forget sitting in our living room, talking about if and when we were going to start a family and we were both so scared.  I primarily worried about two things…how will this change our marriage and how will this change my life.  Both are better than they ever were before.  Not just because we have Brooks, but because I have you.  A new you.  The father you.  And I like this new you.  It makes me love you even deeper and enriches my life so much more. 

Marie Photography

Thank you for loving me, faults and all.  Thank you for forgiving me and being able to push past my moments of failures and weakness.  Thank you for making me a priority.  Thank you for loving me, serving me, and doing everything you can for me.  I appreciate you!  I love you!  And I’m so grateful for you!

Love,

Kristen