Last week I found his birthday card, in the safe spot I placed it two months ago so I wouldn’t forget to give it to him for his birthday.
Also.
When he turned 40, 13 months ago (and one day), the kids and I wrote a list of 40 things we love about him. And I never gave it to him.
Today, the one and only RRL is 41 years, 1 month and 1 day old. Which seems like the perfect time to remind him of 41 reasons we love him. (Turns out when we wrote the list I miscounted and there were actually 41 things. Which helps since he is now actually 41,)
What is truly amazing to me is nearly every single one of these still apply to him today. With the exception of just a few which changed with our circumstances, he does every single one of these things still, even with a move to Tanzania. Still dances with me in the kitchen. Still makes the best pancakes. Still snuggles, plays, fixes things. Definitely still the one to do bandaids, wake up with sick kids and to drive (all of which might say more about Momma than Daddy but I’m thankful he fills in SO many of my gaps).
If you know him, I know you would agree- this consistency is the perfect picture of him. Steadfast. Constant. Integrity. He decides who is going to be and be-s it. Before we got engaged he decided to break a generational cycle in his family. And did.
When he moved into a position at work he had no desire to be in, he decided to be the very best he could be at that job. And was. A couple of years ago he decided to be a reader. And became one. He’s committed to being a better husband and father each day and works hard at that growth. He’s constantly becoming.
When I look at this list of descriptions, all are truer than true AND ALL are because he decided to be. I’m so thankful for the forever team-mate God gave me in RRL.
RRL:
Makes the best pancakes.- Wrestles with us.
- Plays football.
- Brings me to school everyday. (CAL to school by himself last year)
- Lays down with us at night.
- Gets up early to make breakfast everyday.
- Most of the time he’s the one that drives the car, even if he gets tired of it.
- Usually the one to get band-aids when we are bleeding.
- Gives us good advice.
- Encourages us and pushes us farther instead of letting us quit.
- Dances with me in the kitchen (ABL ?).
- Gives us compliments.
- Helps us when we are down or sad.
- Notices people who are down and helps them.
- Is passionate about helping teenagers.
- Thinks it’s so important to help teenagers that he keeps doing it wherever he is.
- Has Thursday nights with dude perfect.
- Speaks truth.
- Makes himself available and is sought out for his insights.
- Makes learning a priority. And shares with us what he is learning.
- Pretends with me- like when my dolls are at the dinner table.
- Is really good at road trips.
- Takes us all on special dates.
- Takes us on Kindergarten trips.
- Is always the first to wake up when kids are sick during the night.
- Sits and comforts us.
- Strict when he needs to be but goofy other times.
- Makes us laugh.
- Is a really good speller and helps us with our spelling.
- Picks me up from gymnastics and wants to hear about what I learned.
- Makes time to talk to each of us and reminds us we can talk to him about anything.
- Is really good at fixing things.
- Uses his flashlight to help me find my blanket if it’s lost at night.
- Is protective.
- Will be straightforward when he tells us things- very clear.
- Prioritizes family.
- Willing to do what God asks us to and helps us make family decisions to do that.
- Includes us and lets us all be part of big family decisions.
- Makes sure you have $ in our accounts to buy lunch at school.
- Drives safely and carefully so we can all be safe in the van.
- The best daddy in the whole entire world.
He’s a rare gem and we could not be more proud to call him ours.
Which is why just about any day is an amazing day to celebrate him…even if publicly celebrating got a little lost in the shuffle one year, one month and one day ago.
Happy Birthday (again), Babe! We all loved you 1 year, 1 month and 1 day ago. And we love you 397 days more now!
love, me
ABL
