First, I love you. I love you even more than I did the very first moment I knew and more than I did on our wedding day.
The reason I'm writing this is simply to say thank you. Not only have you had my interests at heart since our very first date, but you've kept me in your heart for almost seven years since then.
It takes a special kind of man to support his wife's goals and aspirations. Especially when reaching them takes such a long time. You helped me keep my sanity through a million five years in college. You beamed when telling your friends and family that I was going to be getting my degree. You whistled the loudest when I crossed the stage at graduation. You held my hand under the table when we celebrated with my family and friends afterwards. You've always been proud of me.
If it weren't for the sacrifices you made, I wouldn't be where I am today. We made it, babe.
I say thank you for always working hard toward your goals, as well. Just a few days ago we talked about how we got through so many years with so little money. We ate ramen noodles and toast, spaghetti and canned vegetables, and we could hardly afford to buy milk for the entire summer before our wedding. We certainly weren't well-nourished, but we were full of love.
You never complained. Not once. You kept working hard, even at a job where you were paid a third of what you should have been. Our lives are not measured by how many dollars we have in the bank or our job titles, but they are measured by how hard we work toward success. I am so proud that you never gave up. For years, you spent countless hours reading and learning new programming skills, even though you couldn't apply them to your work until much later. I have watched you make goals, reach them, and make more. We are both so wonderfully blessed to be able to rely on each other's support every day. I am so thankful for and astonished by your passion.
Now, it's my turn. I will support you while you're taking classes to finish your degree. While we both sacrifice our time together so you can attend classes in the evening. Thank you for being driven to finish what you started 9 years ago. Thank you for being an example to me, and believing in my craft, my art, and my ability.
We have no choice but to live one day at a time on this little blue dot, but you make every single one of those days special and meaningful. They are all so filled with love and light, passion and respect, honesty and warmth, growth and encouragement, kindness and enchantment. Life is not about the when, the where, the what, but the why.
And the why that we have always come back to, no matter what, is love. You are my eternal and everlasting force of nature. You guide me in times where I see no clear path ahead. You help me believe in myself. You are the calm and I am the storm.
You have never given up on me, even when I was restless and unsure of what I wanted for my future. I will never give up on you, even though there will be many sacrifices made while you're working toward an even better future for us. You always fight for me and I will always do the same for you. We are worth the difficult times, the indescribable moments, and all the good fortune that lies ahead.
Thank you for never counting me out.
-j
