Celebrating a Wonderful Life

This Sunday, March 8th, was my wife's birthday. Stephanie loves celebrating her birthday, and I tried to surprise her this year. We have had a whirlwind of a month, and with the busy-ness of this weekend, I had her convinced we weren't doing anything special.

Secretly, I had plans for my parents to come to our house and watch the kids while we went out for dinner. Unbeknownst to her, she would come home to a party with ice-cream cake and crazy children ready to inject raw sugar into their bodies.

Unfortunately, Sophie got sick, and I had to pick her up from daycare...meaning that I had to give away the surprise to set up new arrangement...HOWEVER, despite my disappointment, we had a great meal together, a family party, and Stephanie had a happy birthday...though she didn't like my card very much...[insert sinister laugh].

This year Stephanie has picked up more hours at the YMCA, and she is almost full-time. She is super busy...I'm super busy, too. So, it's been hard to find "couple" time to talk and build into our friendship. Even though it was my desire for her to pick up more hours, I've had a hard time struggling with "Mom" not being home, available, 'at our beck and call', etc. I've been down right cranky about it a few times...unfairly.

Yet, here she is working more hours than she is paid to teach preschoolers and help young girls build self-esteem. She volunteers at her church, the daycare, she cooks, she cleans, she takes care of our children, she finds time to go to Bible study, and she puts up with me.

Truly, she is a saint, and I love her!

Here's to you, Steph! In a way it's our happy birthday...because on that day, we all got you!