Happy Anniversary to Me and Mine

Happy Anniversary Baby, I got you on my mind! It has been 24 years since we got married. We went together for 2 years because we wanted to give the kids, yours and mine, time to adjust. It really never happened. We have been through thick and thin and much of that time has been thin, I believe that thin, is the hard times. It was mostly because of kids and family, but you and I had God on our sides. We also have love.

I love the wedding song that has been popular the last few years. My eyes well up with tears when I hear it. I wanted to sing it at church as a solo or duet but I don't think that I could get through it without crying. It is the one that we heard Saturday night at Jasmine's wedding. You know the one about, " I wonder what God was thinking, when He created you, I wonder if he, knew everything that I'd need, because he made all my dreams come true. When God made you He must have been thinking about me.

You taught me what a man is. You have given me love, respect, loyalty, kindness and dignity. You have supported me in my dreams, and I hope that I have also done that for you. You have showed me what a father is too. You have loved my children as your own, and our son together, what a blessing. We never dreamed that we would have the chance to do a "do over." He has been such a wonderful son. I am so proud of him and of you. You have been the father to him that I never had. We have had to learn together how to be the parents and partners that we never had. Thank God for God, church and for our Alanon and AA programs.

Thank you for being a father to my children too. I know that it was really hard for you to be a father to my kids too. You loved them and our grandchildren as your own. You taught my children what it is to have a father that is loving, and kind and not abusive. I love you for that too. I think that we were able to teach my daughter how to parent when she was too young to be a Mama.

Thank you for loving me when it wasn't always easy. I know that I can be a moody artist, but I have always tried not to take it out on you. Thank you for supporting me in my dreams. I hope that I have done that for you too. I know that you love your cars, and demolition derbies. You know that I love my art and writing. Thank you for supporting me in that too.

Thank you for not blaming me when times were rough. We weathered the storms of the economy together. Thank you for not blaming me for the hard times. I didn 't blame you either. We have worked together through those difficult times and I believe that we have come through even stronger. We are appreciating things even more than we did before.

Thank you for being loving and giving to those who need help. I love and admire you for helping others when we could have just as easily kept the money or time for ourselves. Thank you for understanding that I need to do that too. You are the kind, and I hope that I am too, that would give the shirts off of our backs to help others in need.

Thank you, thank you, thank you and Happy Anniversary Baby! I look forward to spending the rest of our lives together. I love you even more than I love myself. Thank you too, God for creating him for me. I know that we were meant to me. Love your adoring wife, Shana

There is a little more that I have added, but that is just a little too personal to add here. I am sure you can read between the lines.