Words can’t describe my feelings for Brianna, Sam, Lincoln, Ida, and Tiger. They met me at a time in my life that was uncertain, chaotic, and scary, and I found love in their faces. Brianna has let me into her world, and the boys’ world, and she didn’t run away when I explained that I still play baseball with other boys my age or that I’m obsessed with a band from the 60s that sings songs about cowboys and quasars. The amount of joy and love that I feel every day with Brianna and the boys is bigger than anything I’ve ever experienced. A few weeks back, Brianna gave me a Valentine's Day card that I keep in my work bag to read whenever I have a moment during the day. I can have the most tiring and trying day, and when I open that card, I feel her arms around me, and I look up and smile at how lucky and blessed I am. Truth be told, we’ve been asking each other “Will you marry me?” for months—in Walgreens, at Dollywood, waiting for donuts, or while installing new grass in the backyard. The other night, we were looking through photos of our first year together, and I was awed at how much the guys had grown. There have been days when I have felt unlovable, and then I spend twenty minutes reading books to the boys at bedtime, and my eyes begin to water at the thought of how amazing it is that they’ve all brought me into their lives. Brianna can level me with a goofy face or just by holding my hand. A kiss on the cheek from Sam, a hug from Lincoln, and the look that Brianna gives me as I walk through the door makes me melt and immediately feel whole at the same time. We end a lot of our nights watching Murder, She Wrote, with me trying my best to make Brianna laugh and still think I’m funny. I’m so excited to begin my journey as a husband and stepdad to the boys. There are times when I try to express my love for the strong, smart, and beautiful woman and the little family that has embraced me, and my heart wants to explode. As Brianna would probably say, “Hey, babe, you should tell your doctor about that.”