Happy Annivesary, My Sweetest One!

Dear Sweetest One,

Look how far we've come in three short years! Time flies when you're living an adventure with a partner in awesomeness. I'll make this one short because it's your year to write a letter. I just want you to know that I meant what I said three years ago today:

1. Matt, I love you because you make me laugh out loud on a daily basis, like when you come up with alternate names for our dog, Hoss, such as Hoss-tage, Hoss of Pain, or Hoss-car Myer Weiner.
2. I love you because you challenge me to be a better person, like when you made me promise to tell the Penske truck people that we scraped the moving van.
3. I love you because we create adventures together, like Halloween scavenger hunts or road trips out West.
4. I love you because you care so much for other people that you inspire all of us to be more caring. You do things like put toothpaste on my toothbrush and leave it out for me or come home on the worst day of winter with slippers and a Chia pet herb garden.
5. I love you because I smile every time I wake up to you and when I come home to you. We play together, brainstorm together, create together, read together. Your hand always feels comfortable in mine.
6. Matt, because I love you, I promise to treat you the way you want to be treated and with the respect you deserve. I promise to build trust with my words and actions. I will be your cheerleader, your nurse, your editor, your therapist, your teacher, your student, and your partner in adventure. I will deeply appreciate all of your positive qualities and not let the passage of time dull that appreciation. When life challenges us, I promise to focus on the resiliency of our love. And if I stumble and fail to live up to my promises, I will look you in the eyes, hold your hands, and apologize with sincerity. I will be my best for you.

And I am so proud of the family we strive to be:

We are a family that...

• Prioritizes health and wellness.
• Resolves problems, issues, and conflict respectfully and in a constructive rather than destructive way.
• Does professional work that is meaningful, enjoyable, fulfilling, and good for the world.
• Maintains a daily pace of life that allows us time to laugh together, express our love and appreciation for each other, and enjoy each other’s company.
• Shares responsibilities equitably but covers for each other when needed.
• Cultivates community and connection among friends, family, and neighbors and continuously seeks to expand our circle.
• Aligns our lifestyle choices and actions with our concern for the environment.
• Keeps our living spaces organized, calming, welcoming, relaxing, de-cluttered, and beautiful.
• Continually explores the world through travel.
• Maintains traditions and rituals around daily and weekly routines (like eating home-cooked meals together and prioritizing conversation and connection while eating), celebrations, and sicknesses.
• Builds up trust through our daily interactions with each other.
• Patiently supports and celebrates each other as we pursue our individual interests and passions.

For our experience this year, I'm taking you on a Segway tour of Buffalo Bayou tomorrow night (using my allowance money). The babysitter is booked, and we'll eat Chuy's take-out as we drive (with Crave cupcakes for dessert, of course).

Looking forward to it!

s.

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