Chris Kyle's widow pens heartbreaking letter to husband on their anniversary
Chris Kyle is known by millions after the blockbuster success of the Oscar-nominated film "American Sniper" and the high-profile trial of the man convicted of shooting the former Navy SEAL in 2013.
But no one knew him better than his family and widow, Taya Kyle, who posted a heartbreaking letter to her "tough, romantic, loving" husband on his Facebook page to mark their 13th wedding anniversary, which was on Monday.
She recounts how her husband surprised her with two dozen long stem pink roses when they first started dating and how he broke the bank to shower her with gifts.
But she also describes the pain that she lives with in the wake of her husband's death.
"Today, I have a choice," Taya Kyle writes. "I can bury myself under the covers and acknowledge the pain of missing you and mourn the future anniversaries without you. Or, I can celebrate never having a day without you in my heart because you loved me enough to leave me a lifetime of memories and beauty. I am somewhere in between today."
Last month, Chris Kyle's brother, Jeff, told "CBS This Morning" that his elder sibling was "larger than life" and said he missed Chris' "smartass little self" the most. Chris was not only a great father, brother and son, but also an "outstanding man."
"He cared about everybody," Jeff Kyle said. "He gave everybody a chance, and gave his life doing what he loved."
Below is Taya Kyle's entire letter:
Hey babe,
It's 13 years today. Our wedding anniversary. I miss you and I love you. I feel you in my heart and soul so strongly. I am more blessed to have been your wife than anything else in my life.
Today, I am thinking of our new relationship, when you rented a boutique hotel room in San Diego and surprised me with 2 dozen long stem pink roses when we arrived. You got us tickets to a local improv type play. I knew then I was the luckiest girl in the world to be with tough, romantic, loving you.
I am thinking of the way you loved to blow the budget on gifts for me with that huge smile on your face and eyes lit up...so much so that my heart would leap out of my chest as I was simultaneously shocked and delighted even when I had no idea how we would afford it. I'm sorry I sometimes voiced my concern about the price.
I am also thinking of how grateful I finally learned how to not balk at the money spent on your generous gifts. I am thinking of November 2012 when you sent me a dozen long stem red roses with a card that said "Just Because" and how you had them delivered even though we were home together that day. You just wanted to surprise me. You did and it made my day like you made so many others.
Today, I have a choice. I can bury myself under the covers and acknowledge the pain of missing you and mourn the future anniversaries without you. Or, I can celebrate never having a day without you in my heart because you loved me enough to leave me a lifetime of memories and beauty. I am somewhere in between today.
And if I didn't tell you enough in life, then let me tell you today... YOU Chris Kyle, are IT for me. YOU are the package deal who makes hanging on worth it.
I loved you yesterday, I love you now, and I will love you all the days of my life.
Thank you for marrying me, even if I'm the one who had to ask you.
T