An Open Letter to My Husband

Happy Thanksgiving darling,

Two days ago, we celebrated a year of marriage. Whether due to the new normal or wedded bliss, it has flown by.

I’d planned on writing you this letter for months but, uncharacteristically, I’m having a hard time knowing what to say. Even the most poetic words fall short in expressing how much more you have come to mean to me with the passing of time. So instead, in spirit of the holiday, here are about .00001% of the things I can thank you for.

Thank you for waking every weekday at 2 AM or 4 AM to work, allowing us to see my family for an extended period of time.

Thank you for your gentle kisses that I both fall asleep to and wake up to.

Thank you for your swift and encouraging forgiveness when I don’t speak kindly.

Thank you for washing the dishes in the very particular way that I prefer.

Thank you for holding me on my worst days.

Thank you for believing in my ability to be a software engineer, even when I’m feeling doubtful.

Thank you for hanging back on hikes when I have blisters and am in pain.

Thank you for encouraging me to buy things that I need.

Thank you for always phrasing it as “our money”, even though we both know that you make most of it.

Thank you for encouraging me to drink water.

Thank you for remembering the things I always forget (including things I said, haha).

Thank you for loving my parents and my siblings.

Thank you for having such an awesome family.

Thank you for doing 98% of the work of taking care of our rambunctious, spoiled, but intensely loved puppy.

Thank you for bringing up difficult topics of conversation even when you’re scared.

Thank you for sharing your heart with me.

Thank you for combatting my anxieties with me even though it’s wearisome.

Thank you for rephrasing my self deprecation in light of my strengths.

Thank you for going on runs with me and not going as fast as you could.

Thank you for liking the same foods as me.

Thank you for reaching for my hand every time a prayer is said.

Thank you for calling me beautiful like it’s my name.

Thank you for sharing your dreams for the future with me.

Thank you for thinking I’m funny.

Thank you for knowing me so well. You’re getting a lot closer to that elusive mind-reading.

Thank you for your forehead kisses and your long hugs.

Thank you for praying with me and for me.

Thank you for having random in-depth theological discussions with me.

Thank you for researching things so deeply.

Thank you for sharing your business ideas with me.

Thank you for going on a walk with me with little girl every day.

Thank you for gently reminding me to go to bed when you know that I need to.

Thank you for respecting my boundaries about taking positions in ministry.

Thank you for being a wonderful son-in-law to my parents.

Thank you for getting me a better mic for my recording work.

Thank you for driving me everywhere.

Thank you for dealing with my less than ideal driving.

Thank you for looking into things that stress me too much to do so.

Thank you for turning off the lights after I got in bed.

Thank you for hunting down and killing all of the bugs in our home.

Thank you for letting me only do the fun parts of running our podcast.

Thank you for reading the drafts of my book.

Thank you for making me feel special. And protected. And cherished.

Thank you for always making time to listen to me. Even when it’s not that important.

Thank you for letting me take all of your warm clothes.

Thank you for making us oatmeal every morning.

Thank you for listening to every iteration of my health journey ad nauseum.

Thank you for harmonizing with all of my silly made-up songs and making them sound better.

Thank you for being my best friend. My love. My life companion. My house-band.

I love you. Thank you for being you.

Yours,

Callie

PS: Thanks for making funny faces with me in our wedding photos.