well happy new year my loves...

2014 i'll be writing to you. not quite sure what all i'll impart but know that my intent is to leave you with tidbits that i want you to know. it's been 2 years since my mom has been gone and so many times i wish i could pick up the phone and call her and get some info. she was for sure my go to source. recipes, advice, cheering up, venting to, whatever the need she always seemed to fulfill it. i laugh when i think of the number of times i called her when i first moved away from home asking for laundry advice. #1 question...."is it hot or cold water that sets color/stains?" finally after what was probably the 1001 phone call for the answer to that question i decided to write it down....in the We Care cookbook from which she pulled many of her recipes. still to this day i'd have to reference the front inside cover to get the answer and in my hand writing i can hear her voice dictate the instructions.(i'll be sure to share them with you..... )

first thing i wanna start with is to you, andy. i want to thank you for making the choice to love me. in the beginning of this journey we both had choices to make and daily i'm thankful you chose me. there's much to be said for common core values and sharing a vision of what you want from this journey with another. we had major commonalities and minor differences. we balance each other for sure.

i love the example we've set for our children. we've kept it real and honest. you've been a great dad, husband and provider. you've worked hard. i think one of the reasons we've come to love Christmastime so much is because the kids and i know we're gonna all be together for family time. it may not always be fun & games (as you hate games) but there's a comfort in knowing that we're all under one roof. this Christmastime was all the more special as it's our last guaranteed one with us all together. hard to believe or baby girl is off to college this fall.

so as commonplace as it may sound i want you to know that i love you. i want you. and i am so looking forward to the rest of our journey. i'm glad we chose to do this thing call life & love together!

i've said it many times before folks....life is about choices. some are big and will forever change your life. some will forever change the life of others and some seem so small and insignificant it's hard to imagine they would ever impact anyone......not so. every choice has a repercussion....a ripple effect. may you choose to send a wave of smiles into this world.