Every necklace
“Watching our baby hold your finger, I saw our whole future in one tiny hand. Birthdays, first steps, first days of school, and you there for every one.”
“Of everyone in the room today there was only ever going to be one of you. You have held the dress, the plans and my nerve, mostly all at once.”
“You went through every single thing first and then came back and warned me. You made all the obvious mistakes so that I only had to make the new ones.”
“One chapter closes today, and a whole new adventure begins. Wherever it takes you, I will be cheering for you every step of the way.”
“Today our family gets a little bigger, and I could not be happier about it. Anyone who loves you the way you deserve is welcome at our table forever.”
“When we brought home our newest, I watched our oldest watching you. They were learning how to love a new baby from the best teacher there is.”
“I still think about our first apartment, with the squeaky floor and the tiny kitchen. We had almost nothing, and I have never been happier than I was with you.”
“I still remember the first birthday of yours we spent together. I was so nervous about the gift that I forgot to buy the cake.”
“On our first night home, neither of us slept, and I would not change a minute. Watching you watch our baby breathe was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”
“We still dance when our song comes on, even in the middle of the grocery store. You pretend to be embarrassed, but you never once let go of my hand.”
“I count down to summer break almost as eagerly as your students. Because it means long mornings, slow dinners and more time with you.”
“Every second away from you breaks my heart. I can't stand being apart. Please know that I love you more than any fight we will ever have. You mean everything to me.”
“You used to wear a paper crown on your birthday from breakfast to bedtime. You may have outgrown the crown, but to me you are still the guest of honor.”
“You studied for that exam like your whole future depended on it. It did, and you passed it, and now your whole future is wide open.”
“My secret to a long marriage is patience, good coffee and saying sorry first. It is not fancy advice, but it has served me well for a lot of years.”
“You spend all day with other people's kids and still have patience left for ours. I do not know how you do it, but our family is better because you do.”
“I wish you peace this Christmas, and the kind of joy that stays around. You give so much of it to everyone else. You deserve a little back.”
“Let us put the phones down this weekend and go somewhere, just you and me. No chores and no schedule, just a good dinner and your company.”
“We grew up sharing a roof, a last name, and every secret worth keeping. Now we share a whole lifetime, and I would pick you as my sister twice.”
“When this year finally ends, I want to make big plans with you. A trip, a garden, a lazy Sunday with nowhere to be. Anything you want.”
“You taught me to do a thing properly the first time, which I resented enormously. I have since said the same sentence to somebody else, in more or less your words.”
“I looked for a bigger word than proud for this card, and I could not find one. So I will say it plainly. I am so proud of you I can hardly stand it.”
“I've given you roots of unconditional love and wings of confidence to chase your dreams. Stand tall even if you fall. You are capable of achieving anything your heart desires. Never forget how much you're loved.”
“I get to watch our children grow up, and I get to watch you raise them. Some days I honestly cannot tell which of the two makes me prouder.”