Dear Darren,

Five years ago I said “I do” to you. That was pretty smart if you ask me. I love you for lots of reasons…some reasons I can’t always pin down or articulate, some I can. Here’s a few—I love you {in part} because:

You make  me smile

And you make me laugh…a lot…sort of foolishly at times…until I can’t stop and everyone is staring at me…so thanks for that.

I love you because you are silly and don’t take yourself too seriously.

I love you because you are gentle and kind and good to every living thing. Your heart is huge and I love every inch of it.

I love you because every winter, the first time it snows, you build me a miniature snow man and leave it on the counter for me to find.

I love you because, hello, those arms are absolutely fabulous…oh, and you built that frame to go around the mirror for me…but mostly I like your arms.

I love you because you work so hard and because we have invested ourselves in so many projects together. Thanks for teaching me how to sheet rock, babe.

I love you even though you throw me in the lake sometimes.

I love you because you are adventurous.

I love you because you pick flowers for me…and you get kisses for it too :]

I love you because you are the best uncle to our nieces and nephews and I know someday, you will be the best dad too.

I love you for so many reasons and am thankful for each day we’ve had together and I look forward to each day to come.

P.S. I love you very, very much for agreeing to build a fort on the living room floor and stay up all night watching movies to celebrate our 5th anniversary. Seriously, do they even make men better than that? I say no.