Aryn
(Written by Jess)
Aryn is a fantastic mom to our boys and her strengths compliment my weaknesses perfectly. She is quicker to be fun and silly with our boys. The other day I saw the boys drinking olive juice in a bowl and when I asked what was happening River said “Mom said she’s being a fun mom today!” with the biggest grin on his face. Aryn has been able to convince me to get a second cat, and then convinced me to get a third cat because the second cat now needed a friend. Our boys have been nothing but thrilled to have helped pick out all three cats on days when Mommy was “being a fun mom.” Our kids can count on Aryn to take them to parks, regardless of the weather. Her record is four different parks in one day! Of course, there are days when I can be fun and spontaneous too, but more often than not Aryn will be the one to take the kids for ice cream, let them play in the mud, or go to the animal shelter “just to look around”.
Aryn is an avid reader. She will be reading textbooks for her classes then stop and read 5 pages of a memoir, a chapter of a parenting book, 10 pages of a novel, then return to her textbooks. She has also fostered this joy of reading with our boys. Aryn and I’s date nights often turn into going to used bookstores so we can pick out books for the kids. Aryn reads to the kids with exuberance and animation, really keeping it fun.
Aryn is also a film buff. We can be watching any movie and she can tell me the names of all the actors, other movies they’ve starred in, and fun facts about them. Meanwhile 20 minutes in I need her to remind me what the main characters name is. She also can identify any show or movie that she can just tell another person would love based on their personality. Aryn is constantly telling me new things to watch and I always say “eh, maybe” but secretly I know it’s going to be something I will immediately love.
Aryn has a way of taking my sarcastic jokes and actually hearing a shred of truth in it and running after something adventurous, it is one of my favorite things about her. Recently I jokingly told her to ask if someone was hiring, and two months later I have a new job.
Aryn has always had a maternal instinct and has forever been the “mom friend” who always has a snack in her purse, various Band-Aids, and numerous sweatshirts in her car just in case someone gets cold. Aryn has a natural gifting with babies. She can sit and cuddle a cooing baby for hours without any regard for being drooled on, or having her arm fall asleep and refusing to move because she wouldn’t want to wake up the baby. Aryn does well with older children as well, and is looking forward to seeing our children’s personalities bloom as they get older, but when she holds a tiny little baby her heart just melts and she can soothe even the fussiest one.
One thing that always amazes me is Aryn’s ability to find the perfect adventure with the cheapest vacation possible. I always say that Aryn should be a travel agent! She has been able to plan trips for us to Myrtle Beach, Lake Ontario, Nashville, and countless other places on a college student budget and often has friends join us to double the fun (and cut the cost in half!). Our kids have great memories of vacations we never would have been able to afford without Aryn’s incredible ability to plan breathtaking trips in a way that works for our family.
Aryn has been my best friend for 13 years, my partner for 10 of those years, and my wife for 7. Her unwavering commitment to family, her faith, and her passions has made for the time to fly by and honestly feel effortless. Even though marriage is hard work, it’s good work when you’re alongside your best friend. She has a drive that matches mine and when we set our minds to accomplish something we somehow always prevail, even if it is something that feels totally wild, like becoming foster parents a year into our marriage, going back to college, and now this journey of adoption. There is nobody I would want by my side for a journey as emotional, or as rewarding as this one.