Letters to Matt (26 page)

My Dearest Matt,

It’s our fiftieth anniversary today and it’s been an amazing fifty years! God couldn’t have blessed me with a more loving, sensual, kind, amazing man. I am so lucky for the three incredible children that we raised and the nine grandchildren we get to watch grow and spoil. I’m thankful for the nights we spent loving each other. I’m grateful for the love we shared, above all else.

Some days I still think back to when we were just starting our lives. I think about how close it came to being taken away before it even began. I laugh at how young and naïve we were. Oh man, I thought I had it all figured out, but life threw us some curveballs.

Together, we overcame it all. There is one thing that I believed back then that I have never doubted in fifty years: I love you with all of my heart. You are my heart and my soul and my entire world. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you that day. But you pulled through to stay with me and give us the most amazing life possible.

I just wanted to tell you how much I love you. When you wake up and read this, come downstairs. I will have your favorite breakfast made, and we can start the first day of the next fifty years.

Forever and always, Jaden