I can start with the obvious and say thank you for still being together. Growing up it seemed like friend’s parents’ relationships were dropping like flies but with you guys, it was never a thought that crossed any of our minds. Thank you for showing us soon to be 22 years of commitment to one another.

I am old enough to know that you two aren’t perfect. I have seen you argue and make mistakes but I am also old enough to be aware of things that I wasn’t as a child. Moving out of the house you step out of the rhythms and routines of life at home and when you come back and visit the routines become something more noticeable because you have a somewhat outside perspective. I can look now and see the small routines you installed that built me as a person.

We had chore charts and routines that taught us responsibility and how to work on the house as a team. We learned how to be responsible with our money and the joy of buying something you saved and worked for. You taught us to pray at night and to pray during the hard situations. I can remember standing in a circle holding hands and praying for my childhood dog as she was taken to the vet before passing away. You can’t possibly know which memories stick with us and which ones won’t but I guess that’s why you two have given us so many learning opportunities in hopes that some of them would stick and they have. Even the moments that were not intentional learning opportunities have been moments that shaped me.

As I’ve gotten older I have found favorite things about you two that weren’t as obvious to me as a child. Every night growing up and even now when I walk by your room after bedtime I can hear you two talking to each other about your days. You’ve always had your door open when we’re going to sleep to listen out for us and I’ve always easily heard the talking. You don’t have a TV in your bedroom. Don’t get me wrong we do love TV and I know you watch the more grown-up shows once the boys are in bed but there is something special about knowing you end the day talking to each other. It has taught me that in the future my spouse’s day should matter to me, even when I have kids and my day is crazy I need to save a few minutes to talk to him and listen to him. This is a grown up thing you were teaching me and until now I bet you never even realized that.

Thank you for leading by example and showing us a role model couple who could laugh with each other, argue over directions with each other, go to church with each other, be a team, and end each day talking to each other. When it feels like your hard work in your relationship isn’t always appreciated just know that it is and we’ve been watching all along.