shutting up is worth a thousand words

I don’t normally do stuff like this, but I think I am at a very important time in my life right now. Lots of things are going right for me. Some things aren’t. But I don’t ever want to forget what’s happening right now, and the people who have helped me get to where I’m at today.

So… in no particular order:

• Mom and Dad - I will never be perfect. I will never be like my sisters and brother. I will never be the son I want to be, but you guys love me no matter what and I can’t imagine any of my 30 years without the two of you. You raised me to be respectful, loyal and honest - and I can’t always say I’ve been those things. But it sure does help that you’ve always been there to encourage me to try. I love you both so much.
  
  
• Billy Beucler - You are my best friend. I say that to myself almost every time I think of you. We’ve known each other for over half our lives, and I am amazed that as years, jobs and people come and go - I haven’t once felt like you left me. You are my best friend and I feel like one of the luckiest people on earth to say that about you. I love you bro =)
  
  
• Joseph, Matty and Mila - My children. You are the reason I get up and go to work every day. I am not the best father, but I hope you all see how hard I try. I will do my utmost to always make time for you, always be there for you, and always do my best to put you first before anyone or anything else on the planet. Nobody ever will or even could love you the way I do.
  
  
• Kait, Kam and Zach - You guys are some of the coolest kids I’ve ever met - each in your very own special way. I don’t feel right telling you how much I love each of you just yet (mostly because I don’t want ya’ll to freak out and think I’m a weirdo. LOL) But it’s true - ya’ll are growing on me every day and I’m glad to call you family.
  
  
•  Isha - I cannot imagine life without you right now. Especially now. When I don’t know which way is up and what’s going to be around the next corner. But you seem wholly unshaken by the latest turn of events - even excited at all the possibilities. Your resolve, your love, and your support mean more now to me than just about anything I can imagine and I cannot thank you enough for choosing me. I love you with all I am.
  
  
• My sibs and extended family - You guys are amazing. I’ve often thought of myself as the black sheep of the family, but you’ve never ever treated me that way. I think that says so much about Mom and Dad, but also about each one of you - you’ve never judged me, you’ve always been there to help when I needed it. Now I feel as though I’m FINALLY coming into my own, and I hope I can be there for you as you have done for me.