TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND:

A woman takes many titles throughout her lifetime.  Some good, some not so good, some downright dreadful.  Here are the titles I have that attest to who I am as a person.

When I first entered this world, I became a daughter.  I am a daughter to two of the most beautiful, loving, caring, yet blindly stubborn individuals any daughter could be lucky enough to call parents.  They have been there with me to celebrate the good times and the accomplishments and to support me through life’s most hard, trying moments.  We have shared laughter and tears, loving words and angry ones as well, riding life’s roller coaster of ups and downs together.  Our relationship has swung the pendulum many times, from very loving, to indifference, to downright hostility and anger.  Most of the time, all it takes is a few words or sentences to start the pendulum moving from one direction to the other.  A trying relationship at times, but one I wouldn’t trade to anyone else.

Next, I am a sister.  I’m a sister to the biggest bunch of lovable, sarcastic, outgoing troublemakers ever imagined.  My siblings range from one personality to the next, all of us blending together to form our eclectic family.  We don’t always get along, we don’t always agree and sometimes we don’t like each other very much, but we always try to find room for love.  It’s not always outwardly expressed through words, but it is always there, just under the surface, ready to be shown through a helping hand or a smile.

When I was 17, I took another title, Mother.  I’m a Mom to four of the most beautiful, rambunctious boys any Mom could wish for.  I feel love, heartache, pride, fear, happiness, pain, as only a Mother knows.  They have tested my patience, they have pushed me beyond the brink of every emotion I thought possible up to this point, but they have also taught me the true meaning of unconditional love.  They keep me running from one event or appointment or school function to another, so busy I feel frazzled most days, yet they keep me grounded to what’s truly important.  And I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I know if I didn’t have them in my life, I would feel empty and would always search for what my heart would scream at me is missing.  It is now because of them that I do what I must to give them everything they deserve and more.  They are worth more than the ultimate sacrifices anyone can make.

I’m also a friend.  I have met some of the more interesting people in this world that I wouldn’t trade knowing them for anything.  I have friends who are there to listen when I need advice, there to laugh and cry with, and friends who are unafraid to kick my ass when I really need it.  Sometimes, I’m not the best of friends as I tend to stray and lose touch.  But I’m always there in a moment’s notice when they need me.  A true friend is a friend for life, regardless of how often you talk or stay in touch. 

I’m one of the most blessed people because of all this.  I have a good life filled with just enough of everything wonderful any person needs to feel fulfilled and with just enough struggle and heartache to remain grounded at the same time.  I have few regrets because of how lucky I know I am.

Yet, there is one title that I hadn’t taken, at least until now. I’m now a wife.  I have come close to claiming this title twice before in my life, but it wasn’t meant to be at those times.  I never truly strived for being someone’s wife as I know I hadn’t met the one person who made me feel whole.  I now know in my heart I have found the one I’m meant to spend the rest of my days with.  I no longer question it and I feel it deep within my soul; I have found The One.  That person is you, my dear husband.  You are the one person who completes me in every way. 

When we first met, the attraction was instantaneous.  I could feel there was something different about you, something I had never before experienced.  We realized on our first date how incredibly in sync our minds truly are.  And we have many examples of thinking similar thoughts at the exact moment as the other (“Doyle”).  Granted, it took some time for our emotions and feelings to catch up with our minds, but we made it.  And here we are.

There are so many beautiful, wonderful, amazing, heartbreaking, emotional things I could say to you, but they all fail to do justice in expressing to you how thankful I am for what you have brought into my life and given to our family, save one:  I love you.  I loved you when we met, I loved you when we fought, I loved you when we shared life’s little moments and life’s enormous tasks together and I will continue to love you for the rest of my life.  I always said I would only get married once and it will be for life or longer, so here I am, taking the title of your wife and planning on sharing the rest of our life together.  Always know that I am here to try to give back to you everything you have shown me, shared with me, and given to me.  I love you.

Hello everyone,
I would like to introduce to you my son, Tarent Lee Mikhail Rasset. 

He was born August 14, 2008 at 10:26 am and weighed 8lbs, 3oz. 
Because of this newest munchkin, I have relearned everything about babies, including: becoming queen of the 20 minute catnap; if you wear a black t-shirt you will be spit-up on; and little boys don't like water and show it by spraying you back.  But above all, it is more than worth it.  He is more than worth it. 
The oldest ones are handling everything in stride, the oldest more than the other two, but we're slowly adjusting to the newest member of our family.  I also unfortunately don't have much free time anymore, so I will only sporadically check my emails and here.
Off to catch a quick nap before he wakes again.  Talk to y'all soon.