I love you and your glorious beard. I love your calloused hands and strong body. I am grateful for your deep love for your family and unwavering devotion to your friends. I admire your courage and confidence (sometimes I refer to this as your “swagger”). I love the father you have become and the husband you work hard to be.

This past year, you juggled work, a rambunctious toddler, a newborn, a moody wife, and building a house. You often returned to us completely drenched in sweat from working on the house, and I know the physical labor took its toll on your body. I hope one day you can run your hands along the home that you built and feel immense pride. You spent countless hours managing our build project while still being there for the girls and me. I recognize the pressure I placed on you to do it all. The stress you carried must have been enormous, and you shouldered it all and never complained. You have worked so hard for your family, and I’m proud of you and what you’ve built.

At times, you are a man of few, careful words. You are a sincere man. You are loyal. You can be difficult and demanding, and you strive for and to be the best. You will push when you recognize someone is capable of more. You say the words that most will not. You never give up.

Sometimes during our quiet times together, a swell of emotion rocks me, and I cannot look at you without tearing up. In those moments, I am overwhelmed by who we are and what we have. I reminisce about the young couple who collided over football and Fireball. But then I think about who we are today, and who we have grown to be. I loved you then but my love for you now is deeper and more realized. It is a love that is defined by all that we have overcome and all that we strive to improve. It’s a love that our daughters strengthen daily. It’s a love that we refuse to let go of and continue to rebuild moment by moment and day by day.

We have discovered that marriage is work, and we continue to work together to stay together. Last week, you told me this, “I was strong without you, but I’m stronger with you.” You located the words I have struggled to find: we are stronger together. 

This past year, you taught me that marriage requires patience and work, that love can fix what is broken, and that we should never allow our demons to define us.

My husband, I love you, flaws and all. I need you. I appreciate you.  

I cannot imagine anyone else grabbing my butt in the kitchen or tickling me until I beg for mercy. I don’t want to struggle and fight with anyone but you. I want to keep learning from you and growing together even though it’s so hard sometimes that I want to throw flower pots. Stronger together–that’s us.

Happy birthday to my greatest love.