Happy Birthday, Husband!

Today is a big day in Shafferland.

Ryan turns 35.

And for something to the tune of 3 weeks, we're the same age again.

He THINKS today's blog is about Easter. He proofread it. :) But I've just saved that one back for tomorrow, and TODAY is HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DEAR HUSBAND day on the blog!

Thirty-five years ago, Ryan Shaffer showed up in the world, and he began living out a great story already written for him by God. I was all of a year old and none the wiser.

{About Ryan, that is. I was also probably actually none. the. wiser. in. general.}

Ryan was a darling little boy. Couldn't you just squeeze him?

He's the tall one.

And then he got older. Can you guess which one he is in this picture?

Everyone at my work guessed the boy in the striped tie and suspenders. You know. The one with a wide open mouth? That would actually be a very good guess, but it would also be very wrong. He is the one in the back row on the left with a blue shirt...corralling the girl in front of him.

And then he grew up some more and we actually knew each other at this stage...but alas, I was a wallflower, and as you can see, HE WAS NOT.

Yeah. Letter jacket. Back row.

After this, a whole lotta years went by, and then one day...

A first date.

And whole new life for both of us.

That's when his life story...the one begun all those years ago even before the toddler dress pants and jammie tops...intersected with mine.

And on a day like that first day, this man huddled with me under a bridge in a wild thunder and lightning storm, while we corralled a paddle boat and I was scared out of my ever loving mind - and he prayed for us. For our safety.

And even though he was on a date with a girl who should be long past being afraid of thunderstorms, he didn't run. He stayed and he kept leading and bringing adventure to me.

Adventures that made me brave enough to try things I'd never tried before. Like completing a 10K. In one piece.

And he ran that with me. Even though he could have done it twice as fast on his own, he showed me love by running beside me...just like he stays by my side each day now.

And a week later:

Our life stories intersected permanently.

Ryan, I'm so thankful for your life. Thankful for your parents, your step-parents, your grandparents, your host of siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends - who made you who you are today. Thankful for the integrity with which you live your life. Thankful that even this many years into the story, I get to be part of your every day.

I'm thankful for every crazy wonderful thing we have done...from this:

to this:

...and everything in between.

It has been a great joy, these past six weeks, to peek over your shoulder as you opened all the cards people sent you. To read their thoughts and memories and what they love about you. YOU are a treasure to everyone you know.

And most of all, to me.

Happy, happy, HAPPY birthday, my Love!

You are still the answer to my greatest earthly prayer. I choose you every day. Thanks for choosing me back.

Today I celebrate YOU.