Exerpt of a letter to my wonderful wife

I probably won't share too much like this, but I happened across a letter I wrote to my wife a couple of years ago and it still means as much to me today as it did then, maybe moreso. Obviously I could not share most of the letter (actually proud of myself for its contents, they were heart felt) ... lots of personal stuff just for us. I love my wife. we have known each other over 19 years. We have our difficulties just like anyone, but nights like tonight with her and our three kids just reaffirm how special our relationship is. Like I mentioned before, we are having external difficulties, but we as a pair seem to be riding the wave O.K. I wish our family did not have to face the challenges, but we are and we will succeed. When you love your wife and children, then success is the only option. I have always succeeded when the important things were on the line and nothing is more important than my family. No time period in my life is as impactful as what we face now. I have had some "wing-dingers" in the past that I will eventually get around to, but right now seems to be right up there in the challenge department.

Anywho...here is the snippet from my letter to my wife...

"...we can do anything the world has in front of us when we do it together. You are my rock and my heart. You have given me my children who are my soul and our future. You hear people jokingly talk about the meaning of life. I believe everyone has a meaning that is unique to them. I think I know what mine is. It is to raise our children with you and for them to have a long, joyful life and for them to have a happy and interactive relationship with their grandchildren. That may seem silly on the surface, however, to me the underlying story that goes with this is powerful. If our children have a long, joyful life then we will have had a long and joyful life together. If they have a happy relationship with their grandchildren, then it will mean we did also, because they will have learned that from us. It will mean our relationship together was joyful and fulfilled. Joyful and fulfilled, I believe are two powerful words. I want that with you and I know we will have that together, as will our children and grandchildren. It is a life that makes me well up inside to think I am going to have it with you. Our lives together really have just begun and our future is amazing."

Shall I pat myself on the back again. Just kidding. There is that word "joy" again. I wrote this in 2005 after a four week span when my father-in-law had died from cancer, my wifes grandmother died in her 90's, my wife just found out she was pregnant with our third child and we had just culminated a difficult previous 12 months by placing my mom in an assisted living facility with early-onset dementia (She was 62 at the time with symptoms starting at 60). I really was in a crazy place then. Seemed to calm down a little after that until the last 6-9 months or so and has gotten nutty again.

I thought I would share.