"He was a boy, she was a girl - can I make it anymore obvious?"

I met Jennifer when I was born.

No I didn't.

I was just born. I knew nothing about anything.

But Jenn came first. And 15 long, agonizing, super lonely months later I came along. My folks can attest to these stated facts. I was the long-awaited ray of sunshine in their lives. They promised me not to tell, so as to avoid sibling rivalry. But there it is.

Back on track. Jenn and I, as you can already assume, grew up together. We wore matching outfits, because mom thought it would be cute. And you'd better believe it was!

It was us against everything and everyone. When Jenn got in trouble, I got in trouble just so I could join her (sometimes, other times it was fairly well deserved...). When I got in trouble, she'd agree that was the best decision mom or dad made. ;-) Just kidding.

We were each others best friend. Nothing was ever as fun as it was when we were together doing crazy things. Whether it was re-enacting backstreet boys songs, building forts with chairs and sheets, doing our school-work together, and SO much more.

We were a team. Partners in crime(s)

As time went on and we got older, the world of boys became more real to us. Suddenly the angelic voices of the backstreet boys and Nsync was a thing of the past because we started noticing how cute they were, too. ;-) When in highschool we became VERY observant of all the fella's in our class. Oh yes, those were good times indeed.

We had so many crushes and late night discussions about said crushes. Talked about how cute they were, how we'd get nervous when they were around, how we were pretty sure they didn't like us back (but we'd secretly hope they did).


It wasn't until Jenn left for college that things began to change. Some what for the better as well as for the worse. With Jenn gone I sort of had to find my own identity, step out on my own. Couldn't ride on the coat-tails of her forever, even though I found great comfort having her around and knowing that there wasn't anything I had to face alone because she'd always be there with me. But we made the best of it and sought to remain close even with the separation (and we did a pretty great job at it.)

But while at college, God did something kind of great. :)

Because that is where she met Jon. :)

Suddenly conversations begin to turn from every-day life, school, people she was meeting to this fella named Jon. At the time I remember thinking to myself "Well, he doesn't sound all that special - I'm sure this will pass and nothing will come from it"

Wrong!! :)

She'd share with me how much she liked him but didn't know if he liked her back. She'd say how she was nervous sometimes. Didn't want to mess anything up or scare him away (we Kreslins were pretty good at keeping the men at bay....unintentionally...).

Time went on, the stories continued, the relationship grew and before you knew it....

Oh Happy Day! One of Mark Kreslins' well guarded and protected daughters snagged herself a daddy approved man. :)

Wedding day came quicker than anticipated! Suddenly what felt like years of planning came down to a few short minutes and then it was over. They were thrilled.

They've been married now for 4!! Happy, joy-filled, years.

Jon, you couldn't have picked a better girl. She was/is my best friend and someone I'll always cherish and look-up to. She's looked out for me, been there for me, loved me unconditionally, and will always be my big sister. She will be a great Mom to your, now, son because there were times when she cared for and looked after me like a Mom. She will teach him the good, and sometimes hard, lessons, but do it in a loving way because that's what she did for me. I speak from some experience when I say she will love him deeply and look after them as she did not only for me, but the 2 brats we call Trent and Natalie. ;-)  I know she loves you deeply and I can't imagine her being with anyone else but you. You truly are/were/will always be the man she dreamed about all those younger years.

Jenn, you couldn't have picked a better man. He is strong, like Dad. He is attentive, like Dad. He is so deeply caring, like Dad. He is a leader, like Dad. He will protect you, cherish you, guard you, like Dad always did/does. Mom taught you (us) well when she instructed that we find someone like Dad - because he's never given us reason to doubt his love for mom, his commitment to her, and his devotion to us as kids. He will be a good father to your son because of how he cares and is so involved in the lives of Trent and Natalie. I know he loves you deeply with a very unselfish love. I trust in the many years to come you two will remain, as you have been, in love and loving one another to the best of your ability.

I love you both. Happy Anniversary. Here is to many more down the road. :)