Congratulations to the Driflots!

Dad & Karen—

          CONGRATULATIONS! It's your wedding day and I—despite the incredibly sad fact that I can't attend your wedding because I'm away at Basic Training—wanted to let you know how EXCITED I am for the both of you. This is a new beginning, and something I've been looking forward to for a long time!

          Dad, I love you so much. I couldn't be more proud to be your daughter or love you more. It's neat to have such an amazing dad who would do anything for me at the drop of a hat, and who has literally given me more than I have ever deserved or could ever have asked for. You have helped make me the woman I am today—that woman who is off doing push-up after push-up, wearing a camouflage uniform with her shoulders held high, learning what it takes to serve our country with honor... and wishing I was there more than ever while you join hands with your beautiful new bride.

          Karen, welcome to the family. I bet you look so beautiful today... I wish I could see you in your dress as you walk down the aisle. I'm honored to have you as a new part of our family and so blessed to have gotten to know you over the last several years. Thank you for everything you've done for me—there are so many things... too many to count!—and thank you for being there for Dad. I can't tell you how much that means to me. It's so good to see him happy, and it's all because of happiness that YOU bring him!

               I love you both... from your daughter who desperately wishes she could be standing by your side and toasting to you both on this beautiful, amazing and love-filled day,

—Icy

30.

Dear Daniel,

          HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Today you turn the tide on another decade and I can't even tell you how much I wish I was there to help you ring in the big 3-0. I promise, I'd rather be enjoying chips and salsa on a restaurant patio and eating your favorite white cake & chocolate frosting with you than down at BMT "pushing Texas."

          It's funny, in a round-about sort of way, that each year I've compiled a collage of our adventures from your previous year and written you a letter, because that's honestly all I can do to help celebrate your birthday this year. I mean, I don't even know if my MTI will let me call you on this special day of yours. So a letter it is, unless you hear otherwise, of course.

          I always have the most fun making these collages and looking over our pictures from the last year. It's always a challenge to weed photos out, because to me—they're all so special. Each one tells a story of another day spent together. From road trips to races, from Air Guard days to lazy days on the couch—each was another memory that I'm holding close to my heart.

          Thank you for wanting to experience the whole world with me, hand in hand. Thank you for singing me songs and for your silly dance moves and for always stopping to take a moment to kiss the back of my neck in the morning while I'm getting ready or in a rush. Thank you for our time together, whether it's doing yard work, cuddling on the couch, carpooling to and from work, or just doing absolutely nothing at all. And thank you for supporting me and standing by me with my pursuit of a new career with the Air National Guard, even though it meant me leaving for a little bit, and sacrificing a few months of our precious time together. Thank you. I love you so much and I am so blessed to be your wife. With you, life is "so good, so good!"

          I hope you are able to enjoy every moment of your day today. Hit the gym, rock the office, eat until you're absolutely full, and then have an Oreo and extra slice of birthday cake for me. Even though I'm not with you, I promise you'll be on my mind all day. Happy Birthday, my sweets. Do you loooove me? Yes, I loooove YOU! 

Loving & celebrating you from 1,600 miles away,

Your Little Airman-in-Training Aunie ♥

Past birthday letters to Daniel: 28 │ 29