The Mother of All Posts (Mr. Potter Checks In)

In the 2+ years since Erica started this blog, there have been a few times when I felt the urge to jump on and post something, but decided to stay behind the scenes with my "Editor" cap on. Even though this is indeed a blog about us and our family, this is Erica's thing. It's her creative outlet and vehicle for comedic relief, noteworthy information and so much more. I always look forward to her posts as I know do many of you. As many of you know, this was started as a way to keep our family and friends updated on Roman and his struggles, triumphs and more. We had so many people asking on a regular basis that it seemed much easier to explain it one time and let it hang there in black and white. Since then the blog has evolved and taken on a few new dimensions. The subject matter is not always a serious one. Sometimes it's silliness. Sometimes it has absolutely nothing to do with anything. I love this blog, the writer and her posts and I thank all of you for following it!

For years and years I have tried to push Erica to write. Something. Anything. She has a way with words. An interesting take on life and the world around her. Maybe one day I'll talk her into it or at the very least get her to share some of her creative writing assignments from long ago that first caught my attention and were just a fraction of the myriads of things I loved about her. I must also make it clear that loved is in no way a past tense thing. I still very much love her, even more so and continue to discover new things and reasons.

And so, you may wonder - why now? Why after all this time should I use my "Editor in Chief" powers to hijack the blog and ask you all to read my ramblings? Mother's Day. Mother's Day is the answer. This is a very special day for Erica and for our bustling new family. She is the mother of 3 of the brightest, cutest kids anyone could ever ask for. Sometimes I have to stop and think for a minute because at times it can seem so unreal.

It's no secret that ours is a storied and colorful past. The fights were legendary. The makeups were epic. We were straight crazy I really believe that. Everyone thought we were wrong for each other and that we wouldn't last. We were young. Well, she was anyway lol. We hung on for dear life. We weathered the storms and basked in the good times. We didn't always know what we were doing but we knew we didn't want to do it without the other. We have gone through so many things that would have destroyed most couples, ruined many friendships and likely decimated some marriages along the way. We held on. We stand together today stronger than ever because of all that we have been through. Somewhere along the way we grew up, got married and had 3 wonderful children. I'm sure if you would have asked us back in September 2003 if this is where we would be today and if we could imagine this is how things would be, I don't know that we would have believed it.

I know I'm rambling and of course I'm a little biased, but I think the story of us is a great one. I'm proud of it and I'm proud of us. With each new event that unfolds, page that turns and chapter that commits itself to our lives, I can't wait to see what's waiting for us next. When I graduated and left home, I couldn't wait to put this town (Westfield) as far behind me as possible. Last year we bought a house here and our children will be going to the same school we did lol!

I attribute most of our success to Erica. I am so very proud of her in so many ways. She has changed so much and for the better of course. I also credit Roman for part of that. We were doing okay before he was born and had grown up a little bit, but the past 2 years with him in our lives has changed us all in so many ways. We see things more clearly now. We don't sweat the small stuff. We try to be a little more thankful and appreciate what we have because we have seen the bottom and we don't ever want to see it again. Erica has been my guiding light, my catalyst, my voice of reason, my love and my life. I can't imagine going a single day without seeing or talking to her. She is one of the smartest and funniest people I know. She is truly beautiful and the one I want to spend the rest of my days on this earth with. She is a fighter. She fought so hard (and continues to) for Roman and wouldn't take no for an answer from the doctors who wanted to so easily dismiss us. In my opinion, she is the best friend I could ever have, and the best mother my children could ever hope to know.

I love you so much Erica, Happy Mother's Day to the World's Greatest Mom!