Well Monday was not only Martin Luther King Day, but it was also my wonderful husband’s birthday. It seems weird to think that I’ve gotten to celebrate a decade of birthdays with him and I look forward to celebrating many decades more with him. He’s been my rock and support throughout the last ten years and he always keeps me laughing.

On Sunday we went to visit a couple of our friends in Saint Louis. Ryan loves motorcycles and is quite proud of his Ironhead Harley Davidson motorcycle – which is currently in pieces while he’s been doing some work on it. With Ryan’s love of motorcycles he looked for some advice online when he was working on his first bike and he found CycleChat, where he met Rick, the founder. And they’ve been fast friends ever since. We’ve been blessed to be able to visit with Rick and Loretta a few times over the past three years, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit with them this time as well.

Monday – since it was officially Ryan’s birthday, we spent some time with family. Since his birthday fell on a holiday this year both his family and mine somehow had the day off from work. So we got to have lunch with my family (we squeezed a session in for my cousin’s beautiful little girl in the afternoon) and then had dinner with Ryan’s family.

And then this weekend we’ll be celebrating the big 3-0 with all of his friends! Ryan and I don’t really dwell too much on birthdays or age, after all it’s just a number. You are as old as you perceive yourself to be. But it is a new milestone and I wanted to be sure we did something special so that’s what this coming Saturday is for! I made sure to invite as many of his closest friends as I could get ahold of and the goal is to all just get together and have a good time!

So here’s to my  husband –

Another year older – another year of loving each other. Another year of failing to find the words to tell you how much you mean to me. You’ve been such an amazing provider and support to me through the good times and the hard times. You’ve been my shoulder to cry on when things got tough and I had no words to express what I was feeling, only tears.

You’ve been the epitome of the old school man. The one who opens doors, who helps others, who gives of himself and his time and skills. The one who has morals and ideals. And you don’t just shout about what you believe you actually stand behind it. You are my knight in tarnished armor – defending my honor, making sure I’m treated like a lady – your lady. And always treating me like your queen.

And then there are those times when something really gets you excited. Your whole being lights up and you happily laugh, loud and full of joy! It’s like watching a kid experiencing a new toy – you find so much happiness in the little things. And your happiness is contagious. Your joy becomes my joy! I cannot imagine our life being anything but this. Days of love and laughter on end.

And I know when God chooses to bless us with children you will be an amazing dad. Because I’ve seen how much you love children! You really understand kids intuitively and know how to talk to them and help them grow. And I’ve watched the way kids are drawn to you. Not just the children of our friends, but even little ones at the store. Kids innately are interested in you. And I know that our kids will count themselves lucky to have such an awesome dad.

Ryan thank you for being my best friend and confidant, my support and my protection, my love and my laughter and my joy! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to get to live my life by your side, as your wife. And I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with you!

All my love – Stephanie