Seventeen Years, Today...

For almost thirty years, I've called him "friend."
For quite a few of those years, I considered him "boyfriend."
For one seemingly endless year, I called him "fiance."
For 17 years now, I've called him "husband."
For 16 years, I've called him the "father of my children."


He is so many things that I love and admire:

confident
ambitious
determined

unselfish
loyal
dependable

happy
intelligent
hard-working


He has always inspired me to be a better person in every way.
He can find a reason for laughter in every situation,
and he can always get me to laugh along with him.
I never have to wonder what mood he'll be in.
He sees things in black and white, and never in gray (good thing there's someone to give his "colorful" wife stability).
He never has claimed to understand me, but he's always there to hold me while I cry and then to set me back on my feet again.
He has an annoying way of always being right, although in the rare times when he is wrong (once or twice, I think), he's not afraid to apologize.
He is a strong leader, but in all of the years I have known him, I have never seen him lead for selfish reasons.
His life is governed by godly principles, and motivated by his love for God and others.
Even when I'm furious with him, I can't help but respect him.


The other day, I asked him why he married me and he answered,
"Because God told me to."
I told him that wasn't very romantic, but at least it won't ever change.

I asked him what were his top five favorite things to do?
He told me that his favorite thing to do was whatever he was doing at the time.
"If I'm on a date with you, I enjoy our time together.
If I'm working, I enjoy working.
If I'm hunting, I enjoy hunting."
He is the most consistently happy person I know.

He's the best-looking guy he knows. (Don't you just love a cocky man? I do.)
He's the best Daddy I could ever wish for my children. (And really, how many teenagers do you know that beg their Dad to go to teen camp with them just because he's so much fun?)


Even though he despises being lumped into a sum with other men, even he had to laugh at how well Debi Pearl nailed him in her description of a "Command man." I think of her words often:

"If a wife learns early to enjoy the benefits of taking the second seat, and if she does not take offense to his headstrong aggressiveness, she will be the one sitting at his right side being adored, because this kind of man will totally adore his woman and exalt her. She will be his closest, and sometimes his only, confidante. Over the years, the Command Man can become more yielding and gentle. His wife will discover secret portals to his heart."

I am honored to be the woman to stand beside this great man of mine. I am honored to be adored by him and to take my place in the secret portals of his heart.

And I am so, so thankful for the years I have been able to call myself his friend, and especially the seventeen years I have been privileged to call myself his wife.


I love you, honey.
Happy Anniversary!

Your Woman ♥