32

Yesterday was Holly's birthday and as is normal the whole day revolved around her. We had a low key little birthday celebration, just the two of us, with lots of shopping. It's funny how when you are first married you have to have candles and expensive restaurants and all the other trash and after 3 kids all you need is a babysitter. Love it.

I spent yesterday thanking the Lord that 32 years ago he brought my incredible life partner into the world.

After last night and our conversation I spend today thanking God for who Holly has helped me become. Admittedly I am still a work in progress, and so are you, but when I think back to who I was when Holly and I first started dating and in the first several years of our marriage, I get sick to my stomach. I was an absolute idiot. Insecure. Arrogant. Manipulative. Overbearing. Mean. Stupid. Irresponsible.

I know it is the Lord that does the work but for me it was Holly that he used to do it more than anyone over the past 10 years.

Babe I love you more than life itself. I would lay my life down for you without hesitation. There is no one on this planet that I would rather be in love with than you. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you, get for you, or give up for you. More than any other possession, position or person, you are the reason I wake up every morning and thank God that I am me. At my worst, at my lowest, at my most afraid you are what keeps me in the race. I had no idea when I met you that I would spend the rest of my life unwrapping the gift that God gave me in you. It has been better than I ever could have imagined or asked for. You are the perfect other half of me that I never knew I needed. I could not imagine my life without you, nor will I. I am so proud of who you are and who you have become. You are the most incredible mother I know aside from my own. You have been a better wife to me than I deserve. I love you more than I ever thought I could and I will spend the rest of your life showing you what that looks life.

Lord, thank you for giving Holly life. Thank you for giving her to my children. Thank you for going exponentially beyond what I ever could have dreamed of. You are so good to me and so is she. Bless my wife for the rest of her lifetime and beyond. Continue to grow her, stretch her, overwhelm her, bless her.