As this year comes to a close, I’ve found myself reflecting on the people who carried me through it. And at the very top of that list is my best friend, my husband. This year asked more of him than most. After more than 15 years with the Department of Education, he was let go. Just like a that. A chapter forced closed that he had poured so much of himself into. (Thanks Trump 🙄) All while experiencing deep hurt at the hands of people he would have gone to the ends of the earth for. The kind of hurt that changes how you see others. The kind that tests your faith in people altogether. And yet…he never stopped showing up.

He showed up in the late nights and the early mornings. In packed lunches and bedtime routines. In whispered check-ins and steady reassurance when the weight of uncertainty felt heavy. He showed up for me. He showed up for our kids. Every single day. He put us first. 

I watched him push past how he was feeling to make a conscious effort to become the husband he never had modeled for him, and the father he never experienced himself. He chose presence over bitterness. Growth over resentment. Integrity over ease. Even when the whispers came, “He thinks he’s better than us.” Even when the baseless accusations followed,  “I know he’s selling drugs because how else could they afford their lifestyle?” (Like I don’t also contribute to our household 🙄) He refused to let the noise harden his heart or shake his character. He kept his head down and his values intact. 

What struck me most was his commitment to doing the work. The quiet, unglamorous work of becoming the best version of himself. Not for applause. Not for validation. But because that’s who he wants to be. For his family. For himself. Watching him navigate loss, betrayal, and uncertainty with dignity has been one of the most profound experiences of my life. Loving him has made me stronger. Learning from him has made me better. Being loved by him has elevated my life in ways I never imagined. 

So before this year ends, I wanted to pause and say thank you, publicly. Thank you for choosing us, even when life felt unfair. Thank you for leading with humility and strength. Thank you for loving us through your pain. Thank you for making a conscious choice to show up. You are my best friend. And I am endlessly grateful to walk through this life with you.

Loving you always,

Rachelle Danielle