Mia Principessa

Dear Danielle,

Don't worry, no one has hacked into your blog; it's me, Jacob.

Do you remember when we were kids? We used to stay up late, spend every free second together, and do crazy stuff like spend money.

Things have changed.They aren't better or worse, they are just different. We have a beautiful little daughter with another child on the way, we go to bed around 10:00 every night, and we get excited to go to the store to buy laundry detergent because it means we can spend money.

One of the big changes the past couple of years is that I don't get to see you as much as I used to or as much as I would like to. Just because I am not around as much doesn't mean I don't think about you. I do think about you. I think about the future, about our hopes and dreams. I think about now, how lucky I am to have such a wonderful wife. Thank you for being so selfless, loving, and patient. You truly bring make me want to be a better person. I love you, and I know that Luci loves you too. She's already trying to follow in your shoes.Thank you for taking care of our daughter. Thank you for your willingness to stay home with her. Thank you for doing the laundry every week even though you hate it. Thank you for helping us to live on a budget. Thank you for not spending money we don't have. Thank you for making delicious food (really, everyone I know is jealous that I get to live in our home). Thank you for having dinner on the table every night.Thank you for being so beautiful. Thank you for your smile. Thank you for laughing at my jokes. Thank you for supporting me in school, and being understanding when I have to stay late. Thank you.

I know we have different love languages, so I'm sorry for not doing more girly things for you. I really do love you, though it may not always be expressed in the medium you desire. When I woke up at 5:30 this morning, it was so I could come home tonight and not have anything else to do except be with you. I read my scriptures in the morning, and not at night, because I want to be the best husband and father throughout the day that I can be. When I work at school and apply for jobs, it's because I want to take care of you. When I do the dishes at night, it's so you can have a clean kitchen to create your masterpieces in. When I mow the grass, it's so you can have a pretty yard to look at.

I have been thinking recently about my childhood. I am sure that there are some bad memories that I am suppressing, but as far as I can remember, it was idyllic. I remember the sights of smells of fall in small-town Ohio, sledding down Sparr Ln. on a rickety old flex flyer with my dad (remember, he got school off too),and swimming at Christmas Run park where I always bought Now & Laters during the rest break.During all that time, my life had one great constant -- my mom. She was always there. Whenever I needed her, she was there, and she still is.

I'm confident that our kids will look back on their childhood's the same way I have because of what you do. I know that life may seem a little hectic right now, but I love you. Luci loves you. We love you and I don't want you to ever forget it.Love,

Jacob