By Anthony Welch

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I’d like to talk a little bit about the two greatest loves of my life – my wife Ashley and son Jaxson.

After nearly 20 years of being in and out of relationships, I was on the verge of giving up on love. I was also seeing my dream of becoming a father starting to wane. That all changed when an unexpected date with Ashley turned into much more.

Ashley is the most loving woman I’ve ever met. Quick to always help others, she also has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. I love the way she always wants to hold my hand while I’m driving the car and how she falls asleep on my chest at night. Her smile lights up a universe, and her laughter is contagious.

I love how she’s now a basketball fan, and we can watch games together. She often gets more fired up about the action on the court than I do. She’s also become a long-range shooter in her own right, making me shoot 30-foot jumpers during our family shooting games.

Ashley is my “rocker wife” dream come true, always wanting to join me for as many of my bands’ shows as possible. It comes in handy that she likes heavy metal music as well.

The same goes for Jaxson, an aspiring musician in his own right, he sings along to many metal tunes that I love, along with his pop favorites. He too enjoys watching basketball, especially live. He’s always screaming and cheering with enthusiasm. I also appreciate the fact he enjoys watching pro wrestling with me, much like I did with my father.

He’s the most sensitive and loving kid I’ve ever encountered. Even when he loses his temper, he’s quick to apologize. I enjoy lying next to him at night as he falls asleep. He often calls me the “best dad ever” as he’s dozing off. And he always says his favorite line, which started when he was around 3 years old, whenever he goes to bed, when I drop him off at school or when I leave the house: “Love you, like you, best friend, miss you.”

I plan to have my wife tattoo that on me soon. Ashley and Jaxson are my heart, my pulse and my everything. I love you two.