Happy Birthday, Dear Husband of Mine!

Today is a day of MUCH celebration! My handsome man has a birthday today.

Ryan's approach to birthdays before he met me was it's just another day. No day is just another day. Not even a normal day. All days are meant to be celebrated. Or at least that's the way I see it. So he's been a fabulous sport and has learned to embrace the party.

There will be much celebrating to report on next week, but for now, I honor Ryan in one of my favorite ways: with words.

10 of My Favorite Things About Ryan:

1. He's unbelievably kind. All the time. I learn so much about kindness from him. Whether it's making genuine conversation with cashiers in checkout, stopping to see if a driver on the side of the road needs help, or being the first to sign up to help any human being with any need...he's kind. Always. And he never makes the person he helps feel like any sort of inconvenience. He's just genuine that way.


2. He's consistently responsible. This week on the morning show, the guys talked about things kids destroy. I said, "Well, Ryan was pretty destructive as a kid, but he seems to have gotten it all out of his system, and now he's the most responsible person I know." I don't think I'd really considered it until then. He really is responsible. With everything. With possessions, with money, with time, with people, with his job, with his dreams...he's responsible. I can't tell you how much rest this gives to my soul, and I'm grateful.

3. He's attentive. As busy as he is...as busy as we both are...he always finds and makes time to pay attention to me. I'm learning that this isn't normal, and that breaks my heart for the women who don't get to enjoy it from their husbands or boyfriends. I appreciate the way he makes this a priority and doesn't make it seem like a chore. It's a gift he gives to me every day, and I'm grateful.

4. He's articulate. He's not the writer of the family, or so he claims. I think he claims it because he really doesn't like to write. But for being the one who doesn't like it, he's still so good with words. His proposal was proof of that, as were his vows, every note he writes me, and the stunning blog he wrote the day of my surgery. And it's not just the written word. He can tell stories out loud that are laugh-until-your-sides-ache funny. I love how much he talks and how great he is with words!

5. He's joyful. You can't be around him for any length of time at all without catching his infectious smile and feeling more light-hearted than when you walked in the room. He's full of smiles, encouraging words, the aforementioned funny stories, and just genuine joy. If I'm having a bad day or I'm worrying about something {not that I would ever worry...}, his joy can turn that around in no time!

6. He's devoted to the Lord. I love the relationship Ryan has with God. I love finding him reading his Bible. I love calling him when I'm worried about something and knowing he will pray with me over the phone. I love the way he leads us in prayer about big and little decisions. I love the way he drinks in sermons and wants to be involved in things at church because he loves to serve. Ryan is definitely the leader I always prayed to receive.

7. He's hilarious. Different from joyful...he's just funny. The faces he makes, the spot-on impersonations he can do, and even just the way he says things sometimes are so hilarious. {And then there's the practice of doing a cartwheel into the ball barrel at his job, but I digress.} I have laughed more in the last almost three years than in the rest of my life put together; I'm sure of it.

8. He's compassionate. This is good, since every physical therapist should have this trait, I think. He has such a tender heart toward anyone who is hurting, whether that hurt is physical or emotional. I love it when he's compassionate toward me, of course, because what person doesn't want to receive that? But I love to watch his compassion to others, too. Makes me love him even more.

9. He's generous. I may not have entirely loved this quality about him when the stranger approached us in Union Station in Chicago and asked us for money. Ryan gave him the only five bucks we had on us. I didn't care about the five bucks as much as I cared about getting mugged. BUT...this is Ryan. Generous. He genuinely wanted to help the guy. This is something I need to learn from him. Grateful he has this quality.

10. He's loyal. If he's your friend, you've got him for life if you'll have him. He loves his friends to the core and he'll do anything for them. After the number of times I've been hurt in my life, knowing that I have someone who is loyal is something that brings me much comfort and freedom.

Ryan, thank you for being a man of so many wonderful qualities. I'm excited to celebrate your life today, not because I love a party, but because the man you have become is worthy of celebrating. Happy birthday!! I love you more than I ever knew I could. You make every day bright, even when life is hard. I'm pretty sure I'm the one getting the gift today: you.

- AS