Happy Birthday Honey

Today is John's birthday, and I just wanted to take some time to tell everyone how wonderful he is! He's 35 years young today, and I hope that he's had a special day - even though he did have to go to work.

I met John initially in 1997, then again in 1998, and finally we started dating in 1999 - I love to tease him about how he would have had the joy of helping me through so much more of college if only he'd have stuck around on that initial meeting. We did spend quite a bit of time chatting on the internet before we went on our first date, and I knew I loved him from before I'd even set eyes on him.

John is a very unique man, an old soul at heart - just like his wife - and has an amazing love and loyalty for his family. He would fight like a bear if anyone messed with someone he loves, and most importantly the women in his family. He has uncompromising honesty, morals, and faith - which are all things that drew me to him in the first place. He was a proud member of the Fightin Texas Aggie Band in college, which gave him a military background for his 4 years at A&M... and for all the things that I think were crazy about his time in the band - the experience has made him into an amazing man!

He will make the most amazing father, and I can't wait to watch him raise a family. He will undoubtedly be a very hands on father that his children will be able to play with, but also go to him in times of crisis. He likes to say that my first question on our first date was whether or not he wanted to have children (cause there wasn't any need to mess around with someone that doesn't want them) - and I think that is so funny... because as I've watched him with our nieces... it is so apparent that he loves children - and they love him!

He excels in everything that he decides to do in his life from work, music, keeping a yard, and even cooking. He is an amazing cook! He made me a special meal one New Years Eve, and it was one of the most special nights of my life. Not only was the food great, but it was made with love - the most special thing of all.

S0 in honor of his birthday - I'd like to share a few pictures of my husband's life...

I love the 1970's outfits!!

Wow - check out that collar!

If you update the styles a little bit - he dresses pretty much the same... he loves to dress nicely.

This is one of my favorite pictures - because he is so small on that stage, but I imagine that he completely captivated that audience.

This is John with his sister and grandmother at an event while he was in the Aggie Band.

This picture has a funny story - because it was actually of him with an ex-girlfriend, but I love the picture of him so much that he cropped her out for me!

Here we are on our honeymoon... John was exploring his love for lobster, and we were celebrating - so it's like the only time we've ever bought a whole one at a restaurant. (I think we've cooked them whole at home twice over the last 6 1/2 years)

This is another good shot of John - this one is from our trip to Mackinac Island, MI in 2001. This is one of our favorite destinations in the world (so far) - you have to take a ferry over to the island and they don't let cars go across. So it's horse drawn carriages and bicycles... and fudge shops everywhere - it was so peaceful and beautiful!

Our engagement picture - I just love this one - not that good of me... but the last time we took professional pictures together other than our wedding.

This is John with Maggie and Missy in 1999... I gave him Missy for his birthday about 4 months after we met... the funny thing is that I really didn't want a Boston Terrier, but BOY - I would have missed out on so many years of entertainment!

Happy Birthday Honey, here's to the next 35 years!