DIL: To the couple who raised my best friend

3 years ago around this time of year I began dating a boy who would quickly become my best friend.

A few details:  he is tall, dark, and handsome (would you expect less).  He studies hard and has a great sense of humor.  3 years ago (and the years preceding that) these characteristics in and of itself were enough to lure in quite the feminine following.  I take no pride hits in admitting that I was part of that following (granted at a little more of a distance).  Eventually things got set in motion for us and I discovered that there was much more to my new Prince Charming.  These include (but are not limited to) (and are listed in no particular order):

He knows how to cook 
His sewing skills far surpass my own (though not a huge feat in and of itself, still very impressive) 
Keeping up with his creativity?  Challenging
He takes good care of things (except his shoes of course...a common problem for the 'tall' of this world)
He speaks Italian, cooks italian, loves everything italian (che romantico)
He loves to travel
He loves the simple life
He is frugal
He is very dedicated to God
He loves to read
He is good with kids
He is sensitive to disabilities
He writes thank you notes
He has a dream and knows exactly what it's going to take to get there
He is kind to everyone
He is a hard worker
He is very skilled and continues to develop his skills
...
the list does continue...but I assume you get the point
...

Does that sound like a teenage girl's wish list to you?  Well for me it was my entire list with a few extra bonuses added on top.  A dream come true...not perfect, of course, but pretty incredible.  Being overanalytical me I used to question and look and try to figure out what was at the bottom of this man of wonder. 

After a few stories about how things were run in his home growing up the pieces all started to fit together.  It was home of love and discipline.  Each had their chores before school, but their days and weeks were filled with adventures that mom had found in the local newspaper.  They went to church each Sunday and had family night one time a week.  They had boxes meant to foster creativity and knew that if they didn't send thank you notes the gift wouldn't come next time around.  A family of all boys and all of them even down to the youngest know how to be perfect gentlemen (and live it every day).  Each summer was 3 months of traveling (the whole family in the minivan) across the country.  They learned to save and to invest and to plan for the future.  Again...the list could continue from here.

Though we all know that no home is perfect, we do know that the small consistent things that we do can make a big difference for the people around us.  For the little sponge of a Freddy, all that Jean and Leo did to help their family progress was soaked up.  Now I have a spongefull of amazingness to enjoy and to bless my own home.  Thanks goes to them both for all of their effort!

As a particular mother's day tribute I send an extra thank you to the Italy loving Jean (ah the beauty of a mother's influence).  My father told us just today that though they always say that "behind every strong man is a strong woman," he feels that the phrase should go "that behind every strong man are two strong women: wife and mother".  I couldn't agree more.  Let's weight the balance here shall we?  One strong man.  One mother who has been a part of his life for 24 years and wife that has been there for 3.  I think the balance and credit weighs a little more in your favor (I submit that we re-evaluate in 21 years).  Thank you for teaching and showing my Freddy the way so that he could truly fulfill his potential.  Oh, and thanks for telling him to look for a tall wife (it helped me stand "above" the crowd of gals drawn in by all that charisma and amazing-ness that you helped him to foster, of course).

p.s. can you tell that my letter wasn't sent on time?   So much for my miracle.