Dearest Christopher:

**This is my Together on Tuesday post for this week.  The topic was of my choosing.  I chose to write a letter to husband/significant other in honor of our 10th anniversary.**

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures of Chris.  It's very true to who he is.

Dearest Christopher:

That is probably the nicest I've ever addressed you.  Seriously.

I could've begun with "Hey Dude," or "Yo Moron," but I wanted to be slightly more formal.  And mostly nice.

I was nice to you on our 7th anniversary when I wrote this, so I should get credit for that too.  Just making sure I get my credit where it is due.  And for the record, the sentiment that I hold for our marriage is pretty much the same as that entry.  Except now we have 3 more years of experience under our belts. 

Oh...and a 4-year-old going on 16-year-old who reminds us that "there's no reason to fight, mommy and daddy."

I realize that the others reading this probably think, "Damn!!  Their KID has to tell them not to fight!!"  That means they should stop being judgmental and remember that the argument could've been over who was going to do something NICE for the other.  Because it was.

And anyone who knows us knows that we have never had an actual fight.  Except that time you spouted off and I jacked you in the mouth.

Haha.  Just kidding. :)


The truth is that I don't even know where to start.  Ten years is a LONG time and you'd think I would've picked up more words to write to you by now. 

That would make you wrong.  I actually have less.  Less, but more important.

You are everything a person could want in a best friend.  You listen and nod when I need you to.  You kick my ass in gear when I need you to.  You are my shoulder to cry on.  My stability in this everchanging world.  And most importantly, you don't let me forget that there is humor in everything.  Just like Will Rogers. :)

You are also everything a person could want in a husband.  You provide for our family all the while making sure we're okay in aspects other than money too.  You are the most patient parent a kid could ask for and you are a wonderful teacher, to Jayna and to me.  You help with managing the household and also with taking care of the child.  You keep us safe and show us what a husband and a father should be to a family.

Okay...now that the mushy stuff is out of the way:

Do you remember that time I drank all that beer out of that gas station cup and threw up everywhere even on my own shoes?  And you gave me gum helped me walk so I could stay out of jail?  And then after the cop drove away, you carried me the rest of the way?

Now that I think about it, you've probably blocked out that memory.

Anyhoo, search your memory to find that one.  And then you will know how I've viewed our entire 10 years of marriage. 

I should probably clarify:

I am forever making an ass out of myself.  I am impatient and unforgiving and quick to anger.  I am emotional and occasionally unpredictable and sometimes irresponsible.  I'm pretty much a jerk. 

And all the while, you keep giving me gum and helping me walk.  And when I truly need it, you carry me.  (And then you promptly take off my vomit-covered shoes and throw them in the garbage.)

All so I won't go to jail.

I wouldn't do so well in jail, you know.  I can't have Wine Wednesday in jail.  And I'm pretty sure I can't use Instagram in there either.  I'm also pretty sure they frown upon my love of peanut butter.

So after all these years...which will be 10 years of marriage on Friday...thank you, truly from the bottom of my heart, for keeping me out of jail.

And on a side note: why do people say "from the bottom of my heart?"  Wouldn't that be where all the gunk settles?  Just a thought.

So, I guesswhat I WANT to say is thank you from somewhere around the middle of my heart.  You know, in between the foam and the sediment.  That's the best part of a beer, so it's probably the best part of my heart. I'm just trying to look out for your best interests there.

I love you Christopher....even when my pants are tight.  My world truly became a better place when you became a part of it.  I am so very excited for our future together and I can't wait to make a hojillion more memories with you.  And Jayna.  Let's not forget our child.  That could be awkward.

You're my favorite husband, dude.


To The Moon And Back 5.4 Times,
Danielle