For Brett on the eve of his birthday...

(This post will contain some gushing about my sweet husband.  LEAVE NOW if you don't care!)

Husband,

As I told you this morning, you amaze me.  Your strength.  Your ability not to give up when giving up would be so much easier.  Your maturity in difficult situation.  Your love for your family.  Your sense of humor.  Lesser men would have left during the last two and a half years.  But not you.  You are committed to us.

I love weddings.  I cry at them.  I cried though Maggie and JR's.  And Blake and Priscilla's.  They remind me of why I married you.  It is hard to put this in words, but I know you love me more than anything in this world.  I can feel it.

In sickness and in health.  Better or worse.  Richer or poorer.  Who knew sickness, worse and poorer would all happen at the same damn time?  But you will not give up.  And you will not allow me give up either. 

This year, our 37th on the planet and our 12th year of marriage is going to be good.  We are together.  We made it through the last two and a half years of hell.  And even if things don't get better, we are together.  Together we can make it.  I could not do this alone.  I don't want to face this wicked world without you.  Holding your hand, like I have been doing so much of lately, makes me stronger. You are giving me strength when I don't have any. 

You are amazing.  And there is no one's hand I would rather be holding.

All my love,

Wife