Dear Jake... an open letter to my husband

Dear Jake,

Six months and one day ago (two days if you count this as Sunday already, but I haven't slept yet so it's still Saturday to me) I got into my car and drove to Dallas to Opening Bell Coffee.  I was going to meet Amanda Workman and listen to one of my Open Mic friends play music.  It was a great night.  I met you and Leslie and had an awkward encounter with an ex-boyfriend that I had no idea would be there.

Tonight was eerily similar.  I got in my car and drove to Dallas to Opening Bell Coffee.  I was going to meet Amanda Workman and listen to another one of my Open Mic friends play music.  I met up with Leslie and had another awkward encounter with the same ex-boyfriend that I had no idea would be there.  There were slight differences in the two evenings.  Tonight, I didn't order coffee... you know I can't stomach it.  The musicians were different (Garrett Owen was fantastic and I am sorry you missed it).  The ex-boyfriend didn't speak to me at all this time (We played a delightfully strange game of "let's pretend you don't exist").  And the main difference is that you weren't there.  And I missed you.

Six months ago, I had no idea that we would be together, let alone married.  In fact, if someone had told me then that I would be married now, I would have never believed it.  But here we are, husband and wife (of course, that's a figurative "here" since you are currently in Georgia and I am in Texas).  I couldn't be happier.  Life with you is a million times better than life without you, and I am glad that I don't have to go back.

As I drove home tonight, I thought about all of the good things that you have brought into my life.  The fun experiences we have had, the wonderful people I now call friends, the family I have gained (that we should work to see more often).  My (our) apartment has never been so tidy.  My laundry has never been so caught up.  I love that my Saturdays start with homemade buttermilk biscuits because I now have someone to cook for.  You are a calm voice of reason, and we all know that I need that.  You are encouraging and reassuring and stable.  You attentively listen to my millions of stories that you will probably hear again.  You claim to have zero baby experience, and yet this past Thursday I saw you pick up an inconsolable child and get her to sleep in less than 3 minutes (This might have been the cutest thing I have ever seen you do).  You are a fabulous dancer, and I am thoroughly entertained by you, especially when you dance with strangers in public behind their backs.  One of these days you will be caught, and that will be even more entertaining.  I have a million things to look forward to with you (including trips to Chicago, Nashville, and New Zealand), and I am excited to see where God leads us (hopefully soon He will lead us to go to the same church!).  It has been a lovely six months, and I have no regrets (except for maybe purchasing that stupid Apple TV that rarely works and getting rid of the Wii and possibly the outdoor wedding reception that was a million degrees).  But yeah, mostly no regrets.

You have two more days in Georgia, and I pray they are encouraging and positive for you.  I love the way that God answered our prayers and provided a way for you to go.  Please don't forget my Sonny's BBQ sauce.  Please get the sweet stuff, not the Sizzlin' sweet stuff, just the regular (the bigger the jar, the better).  And if you get to eat there, order the Big Deal with a pulled pork sandwich and a tea, half sweet and half unsweetened (remember that I don't know much, but I know music and food).  Their sweet tea is like drinking sugar syrup, so if you decide to go against my suggestion and you go into a diabetic coma, just don't say I didn't warn you.  If you aren't able to bring the BBQ sauce then don't come home I will understand.  I will just order it online and it will cost us a million dollars for shipping.

You are the coolest.  I am glad we are married.  Come home soon.  Go Team Turner.

Love,
Your Wife