Happy Birthday, Christine

 The other day I was sick.  I was in bed from 10:15 p.m. Sunday to 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, other than running to the bathroom. I have not been that sick since I was a kid, and that's counting when I had COVID-19.  

During my sickness my kids were sick, too.  

My wife held everything together.  She's amazing.

Today is Christine's 31st birthday!

 

Christine is so many things to the kids and I and I want to highlight a few.

Mother-

    Christine is an excellent mother to four children now.  She's mothered six total when you add the three foster-children and three she's birthed.  She is focused on raising them up well.

 

Lover-

    Christine is my love.  She is more wonderful than what I dreamed a love could be.  She meets and exceeds all my needs.  I did not know I could be this in love with a person or that a woman could be so lovely.

   Reader-

    Christine is the great reader of stories.  From countless Berenstain Bears books to Narnia, she reads and reads and reads to us.  The kids know she can't do the voices like me, but she's a great reader.  I'm supposed to be so much better at reading aloud, given my profession, but she's the reader extraordinaire.

Supporter-

    My wife is my biggest fan.  She supports my successes.  She is my shoulder to lean on and my ear to complain to.  I need so much more support than you probably think I do.  I am so much less confident than one might expect.  Her support keeps me sane and makes me feel adequate.

Feeder-

    We are alive today because of her.  She feeds us well.  Christine is an excellent cook.  She has fed our littlest children straight from her amazing body. 

Comforter-

    The kids and I have all been held in her sweet arms as we've cried.  My name might get said with excitement, but when the bad dreams come, her name is called out in the night.  When the bumps happen, her kisses are the magic ones. When death and disappointment greet me, she meets me.

Memory Maker-

    You put such care in creating memories for us.  You go out of your way to make things special for us.

 

Christine, you are wonderful.  I don't have the time to recount all the ways.  I hope your 31st year is amazing, I only regret your 30th year went so fast.  I look forward to loving you each day.