By now, you’ve figured out that your mom is way better with written words and posting consistently than I am. She’s written you dozens of notes, and I wrote two at the beginning. (Now I’ve written three…maybe I’ll get to a full dozen someday!) Hers get lots of amazing comments and people are inspired by how she writes, and I forget to tell anyone I put something up. She’s thoughtful like that.

I don’t know if you’ll fully get this till you’re older, but your mom loves people. She instinctively knows the right thing to say, the right way to listen, and how to show someone she cares about them. She’s amazing like that. I learn so much about how to love people by watching her, because she does it effortlessly. Part of the reason I married her is that I want to be like her.

Your mom and I are very very different, and yet sometimes I feel like we’re the same person. When we first met (which is a story I’ve meant to put up here sometime…) I knew right away she was a special girl. I chased off other guys, crashed their dates, and was generally very persistent. It took her forever to realize how special I thought she was, but once we found each other we’ve never looked back.

See kid, sometimes you find something beautiful. Now, you’re mom is a beautiful woman…but that’s not all I’m talking about. Our marriage is a beautiful thing. It’s so special it was worth chasing her for months just to make sure we ended up dating. We care about one another, look out for one another, support one another, and most of all we have a *lot* of fun just hanging out together.

God gives good gifts, and our marriage is a gift to your mom and I from God. It’s beautiful. I’m thankful every day for what she’s done to help shape my life and make me more like Jesus. I try to do my best to help her do that, too. And when you get here, you bet we’re going to be doing everything we can to help you understand that God (and we) love you sooooo much.

That’s what I meant by finding something beautiful. Love is a beautiful thing. Not *just* romantic love, but the love a parent has for their child, the love a wife has for her husband, and the love that helps them enjoy spending time together, even if it’s just sitting on the couch.

Your mom and I have been married six years today, and even though we’ve got some “normal” and “boring” things planned today, I know that we’ll enjoy spending time together (and doing some special things too). Sharing our lives and encouraging one another in the normal and boring things is what love is.

I love your mom, and I can’t wait to show you.