Dear Rachel,
This post is actually from a few weeks ago.  (sorry I'm getting behind, I'll catch up!)  That week, I really noticed the love peace and happiness you bring to our family by setting a good example.  I know that you are and example to our kids daily.  You lift up the sisters in the ward constantly.  You inspire hundreds with your healthy life style, beautiful pictures and heartfelt internet posts.  But this week I want to talk about your example to me.
This week was spent much like the last few, trying to cram 30 hours of responsibilities into 24.  I was putting the kids to be and you were running some errands.  It has been a realatively uneventful night so I was caught off guard when I went in to say good night to Jenna and she was in tears.  Despite knowing it was a huge mistake, I asked her what was wrong and she responded with the answer that every male dreads.  "I don't know, I just feel like crying".
I automatically debates which of my top 3 responses I could resort to.
1. Stand very still and hope she doesn't see me.
2. Tell her I wold send mom into help.  I probably would have done this has you been home.
3.  Tell her to go drown her unknown sorrows in a bowl of ice cream with the hopes that Ben&Jerry are better fathers than I could dream of being.
Then I thought "What would Rachel do?" I thought back to how tender and loving you are with the kids.  I thought of how you demonstrate extreme understanding, even when it is not deserved.  Now, I do not pretend that I handled the situation with the same comforting peace that you would have.  But I can honestly say I tried to demonstrate the charity that I see you show daily.  As I held our sweet pre teen, the situation converted into and sweet memory that I will cherish.  I contribute it you your example.  I hope you know how much you influence our family even when you are not around.
I love you,
Brandon.

Dear Rachel,
This week I have felt you bring love peace and happiness to the home by, once again, being supportive.  This week Grandpa Larson passed away and for whatever reason, it it me a little harder than I thought it would.  You were amazing.
You listened to me reminisce and share experiences I had with him.  You laughed with me, came close to crying with me, and hugged me when I needed it.  I know there were some times where I was ornery just because it had been a long week, and you let me vent, took over some of my responsibilities and cut me way more slack than I probably deserved.
Then, as if that wasn't enough, you found me a way to go home for the funeral.  You are good and noticing what is important to our family, and making it happen.  It is very easy for my personality to say " I wish I could, but its not convenient so I won't..." but you approach life with a different attitude and really look for a way to get things done.  I appreciate that his week.  You researched all the options, many I would not have even thought of, and found a way to make it work.  Then you had the inspiration enough( yes I'm going with it was inspiration) to check the flights again, after you had already looked, to find a flight that would work our perfectly.  I truly feel like you helped to perform a little miracle and I love you for that.
I was so glad that I could make it home for the funeral and you are 100% responsible for that. It gave me a chance to support my grandma, see family that I hadn't seen in years, and have a chance to grieve.
I love you so much,
Brandon