Happy Birthday to….

the guy that stopped speaking Spanish at the Spanish Language school for me. Happy Birthday to the guy that walked barefoot on the dusty streets of Costa Rica in order to feel what was/is real. …. to the guy that swam to a pink island with me instead of surfing. …. to the guy that “was so passionate in his teens on the soccer field and would walk home from games because his team didn’t win…”…. Happy Birthday to the guy that practices humility each and every day. Happy Birthday to the guy that will play with his kids over surfing because he wants to have quality time with them. …. to the dad that stayed by our son’s side in the hospital for several days offering comfort and strength and wisdom, to the guy that sticks with me  through the hormonal highs and lows of pregnancy and breastfeeding. …. to the guy that has incredible insight and wisdom  when it comes to navigating life and work and finances and making dreams come true.

The other night in the car on the way home from pizza, we had one of Gavin’s friends in the car with us. And we were all discussing Plan B for Gavin’s birthday party in case the weather is bad. The 7 year old friend said, “It doesn’t matter what we do, Uncle, because you always know how to make things fun!” It’s so true. I feel like I hit the jackpot and have a personal fun maker in my house at all times. Happy Birthday to the guy that always knows how to have fun, and can create it with a ball or a straw or his own two hands.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about advice to give to newlyweds or newly engaged couples. But I always go back a step further- and think of advice I want to give to the girl choosing a guy to spend the rest of her life with. And it goes something like this. Choose the guy that is humble, yet confident. The guy that will love you when you’re at rock bottom and will do whatever it takes to help you navigate your way back to the top. And that believes in you the whole time. The guy that trusts in your highs and lows, and detours and rest stops. The guy that will stand by your side when you’re on top of the world, and also when you’re not sure about getting up in the morning. And he helps you to be comfortable with those places because he believes it’s just a phase and he knows you will move on with grace and become a better person from it. Choose the guy that will love you more because of the weird phase you went through, or the extra 10 pounds you gained, or the way you were parenting when you were getting 4 hours of sleep at night. Choose the guy that doesn’t take things personally. That helps you to be. your. best!…. that doesn’t play the victim, but instead helps you figure out how you can feel better! And then he takes steps in order for you to make that happen. And that list does go on…..

For me, choosing Spencer was my pot of Gold. I got the gold and all the colors of the rainbow that go along with it.

So Happy Birthday to the Love of my Life. Here’s to another time around the sun. So grateful I get to be next to you on this ride.

….and as I was wrapping this letter up, I made a cup of tea and the quote/fortune was “He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.” –Persian Proverb

Spencer, you have this Rose’s heart…..  Thank you for embracing and loving me, thorns and all.