a long time coming and #38

Sometimes I look at pictures like this of my boys and wonder where they all came from. Though I remember each one's birth vividly, it's all a blur now. It's all a blur. I don't want it to be. I want to remember the moments. I am hoping this is my avenue to write some of these moments down.

I hope this blog is something somebody will want to read, so if you are here, thanks for stopping by!

It only seems appropriate, it being the eve of my wonderful husband's 38th birthday, that the very first post should be about him. Can I just say I really don't know how I scored a guy like Chris Wolfe? I really don't. I didn't grow up dating, really at all. I went on some isolated dates here and there in college. It was the joke with some girls on my floor that I was the queen of first dates, but rarely was I asked for a second. Umm, I guess one could conclude that I was doing something wrong. And I am sure I did do everything wrong. I always was extremely nervous on dates. But with Chris it was different. If you ever have found yourself in a conversation with Chris, you will walk away realizing that you talked about yourself 90% of the time, because that is just how good he is at asking questions. That is exactly what happened when we first met, and blessedly, he saw past my very rusty dating skills, and plowed forward in the relationship.

And here we are, 9.5 years married, 5 kids later. I couldn't be more thrilled with my choice, or should I say, his choice of me. When I say he is my best friend, it is not a cliche'. We really do stay up until 12 or 1 every night and chit chat like little junior high girls. We really do tell each other the details of each others' days. Here is what I love most about him today:

1. Right now, he has 5 boys at the Texas Rangers game. 3 of ours and 2 of someone else's. The great part is that he is loving it. He loves to do fun dad things. He does not grow weary of it. And in the meantime, I get a quiet evening at home with the little one's in bed.

2. Today we had lunch with some long time mentors of his, a couple that has known him since college (that's 16 years if you do that math). I love that he keeps relationships. I love that he has these wonderful folks in his life, because now I get to have them in mine. I also love it because when he needs good advice, he has peeps to call. He is not an island.

3. He is young at heart. Although he is all grown up now, and has a grown up job, I chuckled as I drove his truck today. If you opened it up, you may just think he lives there. It's FULL of fast food wrappers, random trash, cups from restaurants, AND lots of reformed doctrine cds and sermons and very important government files. Such contradictions. Occasionally it annoys me, but mostly, it makes me laugh.

4. He is my biggest fan. He is the one who wants me to start this blog. He tells me almost daily how much he values what I do in our family. He is understanding when I've had a bad day, but won't let me have a pity party if I have too many of those in a row. He really sharpens me while being my greatest cheerleader.

5. And last but not least, he takes his role of husband and father very seriously. He wants to do this thing right. And I get to reap the benefit of that. You reap what you sow. And I am glad that I get to partake in some of what he sows.

Happy Birthday, Chris! As you can tell, I love you!