A Valentines Day Love Letter, 💖

Valentines day is more than just a Hallmark Holiday for me.  Five years ago on Valentines day I began a friendship with an amazing woman simply by asking a weird and awkward question.  By the end of that same day it was obvious already to me that this was a special woman and I would be a lucky man if this friendship evolved.  Now five years later I can’t imagine life without her. 

Life is difficult sometimes; finances are tight, relationships are hard, losing loved ones, watching parents and grandparents as they move into their final years, raising children in a harsh Covid filled world, etc.  Sometimes I look at the world around me and see so much judgment, so much bigotry and racism, so much intolerance of anything that is different than the standard quo, and changing the standard quo is completely out of the picture for most.  Hunger and poverty are rampant while those who have, often look down their nose at those who don’t.  I’m mystified at a world where so many put possessions ahead of people, opinions ahead of tolerance, religion ahead of relationships, anger ahead of kindness, and judgment ahead of community.

Pretty gloomy writing Lance, what the heck?  You might be saying that right now, and you are right.  Let me get back to the point of why I love Valentines day, even this year when money is tight and spoiling of my wife and children will be at a bare minimum.  I love Valentines day because love is so much better than anything else this world has to offer. 

I love my now 16 year old Cade who is taller than me, is in Drivers Ed and is already considering his future after high school.  This “kid” is different than me in every possible way and it’s highlighted by his extreme talent and intelligence.  Cade, your ability to maneuver through and around obstacles that have inexplicably and unfairly been placed in your lap is amazing.  You have already overcome so much in life and while you may not see it now you are amazingly strong because of it.  I love you and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you!

I love my 11 year old pre-teen (mini-me) Carter who so far is still on the same flight path as me (in other words he is going to be a runt all the way through school).  This child challenges me because I see so much of myself in him, the good, the bad, and the crazy!  He is so full of love and so full of mischief at the same time.  His energy and constant desire to play board games with his family is so much fun, even while exasperating, as his competitive spirit sometimes gets the best of him.  He also is crazy talented and athletic.  Carter Andrew Osborn, I love you and I hope you will be able to one day look back and see just how much you are loved and appreciated.  You are an amazing child whom I love so very much, and I can’t wait to see how you impact the world around you through the years ahead!

I love that in my post 40 years I finally have a little baby girl to spoil!  Audrey is six almost seven now and raising a little girl is so much different than boys.  She is sassy and sweet at the same time! She Loves her brothers and mom and dad so much and is never shy to express it and show it through her actions.  To quote Rush Limbaugh (which may be the first and last time I ever do that) she has “talent on loan from God”.  This girl can sing, dance, act, draw, paint, play sports, and definitely rough house with her Carter. Audrey I can’t even imagine a day when the house is silent because you aren’t there and singing at the top of your lungs, even while staying on key.  You are my princess and diva at the same time, my sassy sweetheart, my daddy’s girl while showing so much love and devotion to your momma at the same time.  You are so incredible and I love you so much and I just know that this world is going to be a better place through the years ahead because you are in it!

  

Finally I love Shania Jolynn Osborn so very much!  This amazing woman came into my life on Valentines day in 2017 at a time when I needed a valentine.  I fell in love with this woman so fast because of so many things and for so many reasons.  To be honest, I am struggling to know where to start when it comes to describing how I feel about my wife and how my life has been changed because of her.  In our five years together she has been the one to push me when I needed pushed, to uplift me when I’m feeling down, anxious, and insecure (even while struggling with all of those things herself).  She is incredibly generous, loyal, selfless, and loving to all around her even when they don’t deserve it.  Her ability to love has very little to do with other’s actions or inactions, she loves because that is who she is! 

Shania you are so incredibly beautiful and it starts with your beautiful heart and spirit.  You haven’t allowed things from your past that would have completely destroyed others, to change your beautiful spirit and heart.  You keep on loving when others quit.  Your love for your family is all encompassing and simply amazes me!  I am so thankful that you keep loving me even when I don’t deserve it.  I am so grateful that you have taken my two boys in and loved them like your own.  You truly are a bonus mom to them and it makes me so happy!  I am also very thankful that you brought my little girl into my life!  You are so full of love for her and she is so lucky to have you for a mom.  Your inner beauty is what makes you such an amazing wife and mom and I am so in love with you!

I love that you are so talented and yet modest about your talent!  I love that you always put me first in small ways and big ways!  I love that you are a dreamer, but not a selfish dreamer, in that you always look for ways to do big, amazing things for your family!  I love that you have never given up on me even though it would probably have been easier to do so.  I love how you make me feel life in ways I’ve never felt before. I love how absolutely gorgeous you are! I love how classy you are!  I love your love for pink! Or should I say Rose Gold?  I love how you hold this family together and refuse to give up!  I love everything about you!

So in summation, Valentines Day is more meaningful to me than some.  It isn’t just a day, it isn’t just a Hallmark Holiday, it isn’t just a day to spend lots of money.  To me, it is a day to be celebrated because my family got it’s start on a Valentines Day five years ago!  No matter how tough this life is, no matter the disappointments and hurts, I believe in love and I believe in my family all six of them (yes I included my two beautiful dogs)!  I will continue to celebrate this day throughout the years as our children get older and things change.  One thing will remain, I love you Shania, Cade, Carter, Audrey, Cyrus and Masha!  Happy Valentines Day to my family!