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.