We're Thirteen, My Josephine

Today, on our thirteenth wedding anniversary,

I just wanted to express my feelings deep inside

But which words to use, I find difficult to decide

I could have written about our fave number thirteen

That we consider lucky for us and our children

In their names the number and our history written

I could have written about blessings that came our way

Foremost are our children and the people we care for

Earthly resources and otherwise, we have much more

I could have written about our wealth of experience

Our projects and adventures, successes and failures

Collected with passion to be where we wanna be

I could have written about our vision of success

Many moments in our journey we chose happiness

Ov’r a life of meaningless races and pettiness

I could have written about how wonderful you are

Beauty that is not only a sight to behold

But also evident to all ‘cause your heart is gold

I could’ve written about your remarkable talents

The answer to “why is Rica such a great dancer?”

You’re artistic, learn quick, adroit and a go-getter

I could’ve written about my luck that you're in my life

And the years we were friends, before you became my wife

And from thereon meaning, feeling, passion had been rife

I could have written about how great you make me feel

That I can do anything, be what I wanna be

That despite of and because of, you’ll be there for me

I could have written about thirteen years together

Starting with our first one and every year thereafter

But that would’ve taken volumes to write, years to finish

I could’ve written thirteen reasons I’d marry you ‘gain

Though one is enough, the most important one at that

Because we love and have each other no matter what

I could have written thirteen stanzas to make a point

Of how much I love you and how much you mean to me

I probably would, no matter how silly it’d be

Life has been great these thirteen years, the next I am sure

Would be incredible, ‘cause we’re in for the long haul

Together in this our journey to our final goal.

Happy 13th, my dear,

About Us (circa 2009)

Our journey led us to this place. A little more than 10 years ago we began our journey as husband and wife. Three years later, we found ourselves with two bundles of joy- a daughter and then a son. They're the children we've dreamed of having.

About five years since the birth of our son, an unexpected gift came- a younger brother to our school-age kids. And soon enough, a baby girl arrived to round the family membership.

Brave was a term used by a friend to describe us. Challenging... and loving it -- yeah, this journey is not for the faint of heart.