Dear Rachel,
This week has been a whirlwind.  We have had two all night drives, half the week in a hotel with a baby, all day conference meetings and it felt like we had no time to spare. I did pay attention this week and I saw one thing that you bring to our family that sets a tone of love peace and happiness.  That is your passion.
You have such a wonderful passion and excitement about life and it allows you to take joy in everything that surrounds you.  This week I left you in a strange city with a baby for the majority of the day.  You embraced your passion for life, adventure and excitement and made something of the day.  I used to think that you were lucky because you always met these interesting people, and I now chalk it up to the fact that you are amazing and everyone you meet feels fortunate to have you in their lives.  I remember when we were first married and went on a trip to Vegas, you somehow met a nice couple that ended up buying you breakfast.  You have met doctors that have tried to help us find jobs, business men that have given reassuring words, and you have even met single elderly women that want to adopt you.    Even this week you met the wife of a congressman.  What is even more amazing, is that you develop friendships with all of these people.  you are someone who makes others feel comfortable and instantly want to be your friend.  I know that you think this is nothing special, or maybe just a series of coincidences, but let me tell you, it is nothing shy of a resounding statement of the type of person you are.  I have tried to meet these same types of people and the most I can get is a forced 45 minute conversation which is nothing compared to your lifelong friendships.
Now why do I talk about this as a way to bring love peace and happiness to our family?  You have these experiences and friendships because of your passion.  Others feel your excitement for everyday life and want to be involved.  This same passion, you carry with you in all things.
This week you were so excited to take a picture of a cactus.  Yes, even as I write it, I'm have a hard time staying awake, but you somehow take this incredibly mundane scene, and will get 1/3rd of the online world to become jealous of your gorgeous  drive through the most breathtaking parts of the country.
Now think about all that passion for life that you have.  We get to live with that everyday.  That passion is felt by each of us as we go about our lives.  We get to feel that passion for each of us individually, for the city we live in, our relationship with you, the gospel and every experience we have every day.  Your passion  is truly contagious in the best way possible.  Thank you for helping our family to have a wonderful perspective on life.  I love you so much,
love always,
Brandon