Eleven birthdays… today is the eleventh birthday I’ve gotten to celebrate my wonderful, amazing husband. And he certainly deserves to be celebrated! There is never a day that I don’t consider myself lucky to have this man in my life and better still that I get to be his wife.

If you’ve been reading for a while, you probably know some of our story. You probably know that I was the quiet, sad high school girl, and he was the goofy, fun-loving college boy. We met while playing in our church band. We talked. We dated. We fell in love. He pulled me out of my loneliness and feelings of worthlessness… sometimes he still does.

There are so many wonderful, remarkable things about Ryan. He is probably one of the most loyal people I’ve ever met. If you are his friend, I’m sure you know that he has your back. He will be there at any time you say you need him. He’s the kind of guy who would dish out a punch if you said something you know you shouldn’t have about me. But he’s also the guy who is super gentle and playful with kids, and compassionate to those in pain, generous with his time and money. He’s brilliant and a quick learner… though he has no college credentials to prove it. He’s fascinated by history and excels in practical skills but he also has this beautiful artistic side that he rarely shares. And he doesn’t take himself too seriously… he has an amazing sense of humor. He’s just an incredibly remarkable and amazing man… I find myself fascinated by him and loving him more each and every day.

And it is not lost on me that this whole road we’ve been walking could have been so much harder if not for the kind of man he is. I’m grateful to have a man who listens to me… even when I seem to be repeating the same worries and doubts over and over again. He listens and he tries to understand. Even when it’s something he can’t understand – he tries really hard to understand what I’m feeling. He doesn’t write off my feelings or belittle them. He’s never made me feel less. He has been the hand to lift me up, the shoulder to cry on, the ear that listens, and the mind that helps solve problems.

Neither one of us is perfect… we’re both flawed in our own ways. But it’s as if the flawed, frayed edges of each of us intertwined together into a more intricately woven piece. More beautiful and strong than we could have ever hoped to be separately. … Together was always where we were meant to be.

Happy Birthday sweet man! I love you with all that I am!