Happy Early Birthday, Matt!

Dearest Matt,

It’s always a treat when your birthday rolls around and we get to spend time lavishing you with joy and affection the way you lavish us the rest of the year.

Do you know how lucky we are to have you in our lives?

You are the cement foundation upon which our lives our built (not like a dinky foundation—more like the 30-foot foundation rising from the yard next door but without the crack in it).

You are the water that we all swim around in and breathe oxygen from without even realizing it.

You are the hot air balloon which helps us rise beyond our daily reality and experience joyous heights.

We don’t thank you enough because you are always there, always doing and being in service of us. You welcome us home with a smile on your face. You keep the boys fed and bathed. You don’t need me to tell you my gin rummy secrets because you are kicking my butt in Lifetime Points.

You are the best decision I ever made (and you know your wife makes a lot of good decisions ;-).

Here’s to another year full of gratitude that I get to call you my partner and the boys get to call you their father. Our life is what it is because of you.