To Pam - The love of my life - A special message on Mother's Day

This was written last night and shared with my wife before sharing it publicly.

Sweetheart - I wanted to write something special for you on this, the most special of all days for moms.  I feel bad that our finances didn't allow me to do something extravagant for you, because I feel that you richly deserve it. 

I will never forget the day that you told me we were going to be parents for the first time.  I have repeated your fortune cookie story many times, and it never fails to make me well up with happy tears.  I still think that is the single most creative (and patient) way to tell a husband of his impending fatherhood. 

There are many days that I hope never to forget, such as the births of each of our three marvelous children.  The sight of their precious infant faces is etched into my memory.  I see now that one of our "infants" is playing piano (very well) and is a junior black belt.  He is also riding a bike.  Another of our newborns has become quite the artist.  Where does the time go?

You have shaped them into wonderful people already, and I can hardly wait to see what the future will bring for each one. 

Your sense of humor is disarming and you have the ability to make me laugh no matter what the circumstances are.  For this, I thank you, and I love you.  I know that you learned from the master, after all, right?  :-)

You made a huge sacrifice for me and for our kids by being a stay-at-home mom and by choosing to homeschool.  You gave up a successful career, and I know that this was difficult for you.  I know that I was a hard sell on homeschooling a few years ago, but I am thankful that you stuck to your guns.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  The work you do each day with them is infinitely more important than what I do for a living.  I bring home money, but you shape lives!

I am happy for the honesty that we have developed with each other and with our children.  This is a great launching point for them to create lives of integrity.

I am so happy for that night when we met in May 1991 - conditions were perfect.  If you had asked either of us before we met if we would be meeting our future lifelong spouse that night, I can't imagine that we would have been optimistic, considering the fact that the club was called Sanitarium.  Seventeen years later, I still remember what each of us was wearing (including my mustard-yellow paisley shirt) and I remember the first words I ever heard from you.  I thank God for bringing us together.

You are a fabulous mother, and I wouldn't want anyone else to handle these duties with my children.  You are ridiculously intelligent, and I rarely admit that anyone is smarter than I am, but you are.  I defer to your expertise in areas of science, literature, history, and whatever other areas my puny mind is unable to summon right now.  I will admit that I am better with numbers and understanding people, which is why I chose this field in the first place.   But for "book knowledge", there are few who can compete with you.

You were beautiful on that night, and you remain beautiful today.  Let's see - tall, pretty, and smart, too?  How could I possibly deserve you?  The answer is that I probably don't, but God chose you for me long before I even knew you.

You are my sweetie, and I hope (think) you had a great Mother's Day.  I look forward to a lifetime of love with you. 

I love you with all my heart.