I don't have a really long post today. I thought of many ways to try and spruce this up into something longer, but everything I considered only got in the way of the message. So my only concern is that reading this will make you cry. Not sad cry, but happy cry.
Last night I couldn't sleep after finishing my work. TV was boring, so I decided to watch the girls videos on my iPad. I really l love those videos. The girls have no idea how often I watch them. They also likely don't comprehend how proud I am of them.
What hit me during the videos was that I noticed something had not noticed before. A certain pattern in the videos that crossed both girls, extened through every age and never changed. It was something you did/do. I think it is a special gift given to you by god for our children. It is a gift of comfort and safety, but I never realized how it was delivered.
I am sure you have seen a million pictures of proud parents holding their newborn babies and gazing at them. That special look you give to something so new that you love so much. The one where you are holding the baby in your arms extended in front of you and you just staring at them in awe. It is the kind of look they put on cards and in picture frames.
Ironically there is picture in both of the girls videos of you in that pose, with that look on your face. Your look is of course much better than the normal look. It shows your amazement in the babies. It shows how much you love them. It shows how much you care for them. It shows how much you will protect them. It is magical.
Here is the thing. The older they get in the pictures, you still look at them that way. It isn't even subtle. It is obvious. It never goes away. Like an on going Mona Lisa of sorts. Year after year. Situation after situation. Your magical blue eyes look down on them with amazement, wonder, care and love. Whether at age 10 months, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, etc. It doesn't matter, it is always there for them. And just as they did as babies, they catch the look. They smile. They feel comfort. They feel safe. Most of all they feel loved.
I checked even some of the Facebook photos of recent times. The look is still there. Protecting them into adulthood. Caring for them like no one ever will. I think that without even knowing it, they have started to look for the look to give them comfort.
So there you have it, something new I learned about you after all these years. Something to add to the magic that is my amazing wife and mother of my children.
You're the world to me. I love you more than anything in the world.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Less Than a Week Now
In less than a week we will be officially moved out of Wisconsin and into the fine city of Chicago. Nearly 23 years after I promised to get you back home, I am finally doing so. I may be slow, but I always find a way to get you the things you really want in life.
I can remember how hard the decision to move from Texas was for us. We have that fine story about meeting people in Cabo and deciding to move on our own, but in reality it was a huge step for us. Nearly 8 years later, we are off again. This time it is just the two of us, but I gather that those little girls will find plenty of time to spend with us in our new home(s).
By my count we have lived in Wisconsin for 2,888 days, roughly 35% of our marriage. We have been in this house for 2,539 days. No matter how you look at it, we have spent a considerable portion of our lives and the girls personal development in Wisconsin. So no matter how excited I am about the move, I will be a bit sad to leave such an important chapter in our history together.
So because I have not done a Top 10 List in a long time, I figured I would do one for our time in Wisconsin and illuminate some of the memories we have created while we lived in the fine state.
10) The time that we spent on the back patio at the "ghetto house" with our good friends. We burned virtually everything in sight trying to stay warm. We even finally opted to give our good friend the cross she so desperately needed at the time.
9) Proms - both of our amazing daughters looked heavenly. They stood out from the crowd and these are memories we will never forget. Part of their coming of age so to speak.
8) Snow, snow, snow....by my count we likely saw over 600 inches of snow (did some research on this). That is 50 feet! I love the pictures of the girls first "snow" play, them learning to snowboard, how cool you look in gloves, a scarf and sunglasses, and frankly it is just darned pretty. I learned to love the cold as much as the warm.
7) Graduation celebrations galore. Parties our families will remember forever and I think our girls will be hard pressed to top for their own kids. No worries though, they have you to help out.
6) Sing Star baby. Countless hours of drunken singing. We dragged family, friends and kids into the mix. In the end we even found out that we can do it all by ourselves and still have a great time. Best sing star moments include, "oh my god we rocked rocket Man!", constant defeats at your hands on "Creep", singing "everybody wants to rule the world" with my baby and the introduction of fake instruments.
5) Living in one city and working in another. Mostly I remember how well you adapted, maintained and ensured the family remained as normal as possible.
4) Our "local" bar. we have really made our mark on the Centennial. We were officially regulars without being drunks. Lots of fun debates, arguments and silly stories.
3) The introduction of the Kayak. "Did they move Mcdonalds?"
2) The shuffle. It remains a top ten parental moment of all time across all parents. I recant that. It is top 3 - from any parent anywhere. It is on film, it is hilarious and it is why our girls worship their mother. Your sense of humor permeates all of us.
1) Really this one is a combination. While we ha da very short rough patch, the time we spent in WI are some of the best years of our marriage. We made it without and extended family to lean on. we grew closer all the time. Our family unit became a very tight unit who relies on each other for support and love. We grew so much as people. As a couple. As a family. These have been a great nearly 3,000 days.
Now off to start writing the next chapter. While I have so many things to look back on, you always give me so many things to look forward to every ay.
You're the world to me. I love you more than anything in the world.
I can remember how hard the decision to move from Texas was for us. We have that fine story about meeting people in Cabo and deciding to move on our own, but in reality it was a huge step for us. Nearly 8 years later, we are off again. This time it is just the two of us, but I gather that those little girls will find plenty of time to spend with us in our new home(s).
By my count we have lived in Wisconsin for 2,888 days, roughly 35% of our marriage. We have been in this house for 2,539 days. No matter how you look at it, we have spent a considerable portion of our lives and the girls personal development in Wisconsin. So no matter how excited I am about the move, I will be a bit sad to leave such an important chapter in our history together.
So because I have not done a Top 10 List in a long time, I figured I would do one for our time in Wisconsin and illuminate some of the memories we have created while we lived in the fine state.
10) The time that we spent on the back patio at the "ghetto house" with our good friends. We burned virtually everything in sight trying to stay warm. We even finally opted to give our good friend the cross she so desperately needed at the time.
9) Proms - both of our amazing daughters looked heavenly. They stood out from the crowd and these are memories we will never forget. Part of their coming of age so to speak.
8) Snow, snow, snow....by my count we likely saw over 600 inches of snow (did some research on this). That is 50 feet! I love the pictures of the girls first "snow" play, them learning to snowboard, how cool you look in gloves, a scarf and sunglasses, and frankly it is just darned pretty. I learned to love the cold as much as the warm.
7) Graduation celebrations galore. Parties our families will remember forever and I think our girls will be hard pressed to top for their own kids. No worries though, they have you to help out.
6) Sing Star baby. Countless hours of drunken singing. We dragged family, friends and kids into the mix. In the end we even found out that we can do it all by ourselves and still have a great time. Best sing star moments include, "oh my god we rocked rocket Man!", constant defeats at your hands on "Creep", singing "everybody wants to rule the world" with my baby and the introduction of fake instruments.
5) Living in one city and working in another. Mostly I remember how well you adapted, maintained and ensured the family remained as normal as possible.
4) Our "local" bar. we have really made our mark on the Centennial. We were officially regulars without being drunks. Lots of fun debates, arguments and silly stories.
3) The introduction of the Kayak. "Did they move Mcdonalds?"
2) The shuffle. It remains a top ten parental moment of all time across all parents. I recant that. It is top 3 - from any parent anywhere. It is on film, it is hilarious and it is why our girls worship their mother. Your sense of humor permeates all of us.
1) Really this one is a combination. While we ha da very short rough patch, the time we spent in WI are some of the best years of our marriage. We made it without and extended family to lean on. we grew closer all the time. Our family unit became a very tight unit who relies on each other for support and love. We grew so much as people. As a couple. As a family. These have been a great nearly 3,000 days.
Now off to start writing the next chapter. While I have so many things to look back on, you always give me so many things to look forward to every ay.
You're the world to me. I love you more than anything in the world.
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