Rafael,

Did we just make it to 10 years of marriage?! Has it somehow already been a decade of love, laughter, adventure, loss, growth, transition, and holding on for dear life to my partner and best friend? For all of the untamed wild spirit that I bring into our lives, you my love keep me grounded and safe. You’re the only person that can pick me up when i’m falling apart and remind me that I can conquer the world because I am enough, I should just probably take a nap first. My favorite things in life that I treasure are dancing in the kitchen, sitting on the porch and checking in with each other, making you a cup of coffee and talking for a few minutes before all the kids wake up, and staying up late, working side by side after the kids have gone to bed. To me, those are the incredible and most important little celebrations in life. Actually living is the greatest gift of all. You protect all of us and somehow, no matter what shenanigans we’re all up to, you’re there, reminding us that yes, you love us, even if we’re all nuts!

So often people ask me how I can run a business, raise 4 children, and still do all the other things that make me fulfilled and happy. The answer is honestly SO simple though, I am who I am, where I am, and what I am because of you. Because you are always there, supporting me, protecting me, and enabling me 🙂 The person I can turn to when I feel like everything’s caving in and am scared, sad, confused, anxious, alone. You’re also the first person I run to when I’m excited, giddy, and happy. I am just so unbelievably grateful for you. Because you, Rafael, have a big, kind, warm heart and “never say no”! LOL! I’m not sure if that’s a testament to my persuasiveness or your easygoing nature…maybe it’s both but I think it works for us!

Raising our 4 incredible, hilarious, and strong-willed children with you is a gift. Even if it’s such a challenge, they do have huge hearts and are wild, compassionate, and thoughtful. I’d say we’re definitely doing something right. Yes it’s hard, long-thankless hours of parenting but I’m so thankful to be with you in this journey. Creating a life together with the keeper of my heart and my best friend is everything I always dreamt of. Sometimes I look at you and we just remind each other how lucky we are. How crazy it is that out of all the ways we could’ve missed each other in life, how unlikely for us to have even met in the first place. We’re from such different parts of the world, my crazy spirit to your calm energy, being on diverging paths, yet, against all odds, we met and in that moment, I felt like someone had sucked all the air out of the room. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, I was nervous, and wondering if you liked me too.

Now, all these years later, amidst the piles of laundry, mountain of dishes, screaming kids, drowning in toys and electronics, I still feel like I can’t breathe when I’m around you. I still hope you like me too. We still flirt, I giggle when you kiss me because I’m so excited that you love me, we sneak glances when the kids aren’t looking, I try to impress you with my “coolness” which is non-existent so I turn to my trusty old sense of humor 🙂

I remember when we were dating, we had a friend who was married and he said that “after 7 years together, you won’t care anymore, you’re not going to still try to impress or surprise each other or worry about going on dates”, well…he was hella wrong! I still don’t let you see me get ready because I still, after spending the past 12 years together, I want to impress you, I still love the way you look at me when I dress up for a date, I still like when you surprise me with sweet little treats and pick up my favorite wine, when you tell me that i’m pretty, I still light up, and I absolutely, hands down, LOVE being with you. Probably more than you’d like 🙂 ! LOL!

So, happy anniversary. We were supposed to be in a resort in the Philippines right now but, life had other plans…mainly COVID. So instead, we’re hanging out in Hawaii, not a bad way to spend an anniversary if you ask me 🙂 Besides, i’ve told you a million times, I don’t care where I am as long as I’m with you (and not in Yuma or Lejeune) but yeah, anywhere with you babe. I can’t wait to continue building a life with my favorite person and raising these little monsters that we love so much (even if they never let us sleep! haha!) I also can’t wait to see what amazing adventures lie ahead for us.

-Jailyn

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