My Husband

(this photo was taken by Kimi a couple of weeks ago. Here Rick is coaching his Intra-Mural Cross Country Team at their first big meet! I love this work-out outfit. Go Hawks!)

I have been wanting to do a post about my husband for a while now but kept putting it off because other things come up and I knew it would be hard to write down what I am feeling as I am not the best writer......For as open as I have been with writing this family blog I have at some times found it hard to share some of my treasured feelings but I want everyone to know how much I adore my husband........I posted a song by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw called It's Your Love to help inspire me, it will be playing as you read this.......So here goes:

I just love my husband so much. I am so blessed to share this life journey with him. This summer we will be celebrating our 8th Wedding Anniversary. That will make it 18 years together! I always tell him that we will be going some where big in two years to celebrate but heck Kah-Ne-Tah will do for now, we just need to take the time to get there and sun or no snow will help. (For those of you who are good at math, Yes we dating in high school. People always ask.)

From high school to college, to financial hard times to stability, coaching sports to starting our teaching careers, building our new home together and then came the fence.....I quickly learn that he knows much more about fences then I do and I should just leave him alone so he can get the job done, to putting in a sprinkler system to purchasing our first new cars, your sisters children and then my brothers, infertility then the blessings of adoption, losing Grandma Cox, Grandma Smith and then your Brother, questioning faith to believing. Honestly we have had our ups and downs, highs and lows but through it all we have worked hard to make it through it. Having faith in each other, being committed and willing to admit our mistakes. It takes time and hard work but the rewards are tremendous.

So many of my best memories are with my husband. First true love, our first date, my first pair of contacts (I will never forget that day at school. Walking into our high school, opening the doors and then walking down the long hallway to where everyone would sit and hang out during the morning. I sit over by my best girl friends and you say to me, "Michele, let me see. I turn and you smile.), sitting in the stands during my volleyball, basketball and track meets, helping me decide to go out for the golf team and learning that you do NOT stand before some one who is teeing off!!, watching you play football, basketball and golf, wearing your Letterman's jacket or football Jersey, high school dances, driving me around every where, talking about going to Prom together and then you asking me in front of our whole class during Mr. Bells class, trying to work through math in college, see your enjoyment as you find a fun softball team to play with during college, our first apartment in the "Getto", our wedding, all of our trips to Kah-Ne-Tah, our trip to China and holding our daughter Simone in our arms for the first time, good times with family and friends, supporting me in my quest to be healthy again/taking time for myself, accepting me as I am, never complaining about my blogging addiction, your excitement this week as you purchase your "second" high end bicycle and training shoes for Brandon, watching you take care and play with Simone, being the best Daddy in the whole world, coming down stairs before work after a ruff morning and seeing breakfast ready for Simone and I, helping around the house, I love the way Simone yells your name in the morning after you have left early for work, the way Simone hugs me tightly because that is the way you hug her, how Simone throws a ball because of the way you taught her, your smile and your sense of humor.

There are so many memories I can write forever. It has been fun to think of some tonight.

I am so proud of how hard you work, how nice you are to other people and how caring you are for children. I am so proud of your hard work with your bicycle training and your running!!! See I told you, you can do it! The competitive side of me is trying to catch you.

When ever I see him I still get that feeling of being in love and I am so happy to see him at the end of the day. Thanks for trying and for being you.

I appreciate the way he has encouraged and supported me through out our time together. I feel so lucky to have you on "my team" :O)

It is hard to write down every thing and put it all into words but just like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill sing in their song, "Dancing in the dark, middle of the night, taking your heart and holding it tight, emotional touch touching my skin and asking you to do what you've been doing all over again, oh it's a beautiful thing, don't think I can keep it all in, I just gotta let you know what it is that won't let me go, It's Your Love, It Does Something to Me, Sends a shock right through me, I can't get enough, if you ever wonder about the spell that I am under.......all of this happened by taking your hand, and who I am now is who I wanted to be and now that we are together I am stronger than ever, I am happy and free......" What an inspiring song.

I can't imagine my life with out you, my best friend, my companion, the father of our children, the love of my life.

I am so blessed and happy to be married to you. I can't wait for more years together and for our trip to Chengdu China with Simone to bring our little Sophie home! You are a blessing from God and I love you so much!

(This photo was taken on Simone's 4th Birthday by Becca.)