Happy Anniversary, Sweetie!

Today, Chris and I have been married 11 years. Its amazing that this much time has passed so quickly. Then, I think that we have had time to have these four wonderful children!

Chris is a fabulous husband. He is my very best friend. Chris is someone I can be silly with, who will play, listen, hold, pray with and for me, and just be there in any way I need. I love watching him interact with our children. He has all these quirky traditional things they do together...."I'm the tickle monster gonna hug you, I'm the tickle monster gonna hold-you-tight....." You have to see it to really know what I am talking about. One of their favorite things for the girls is for Chris to turn on music and dance with them. The boys love when he plays catch with them or wrestles. Then they have sweet times where he just has a special way of relating to them and touching their hearts. These children KNOW their Daddy loves them!

Chris has romanced my heart from the very beginning. He is a writer, although he doesn't want anyone to know it. I have boxes of love letters that I have received over the last 11 years. Chris loves to speak through music. I have tapes and, now, cd's with special music that Chris has especially picked along with letters to explain why each song was selected. He has planned wonderful, thoughtful evenings for us to share together (although those come further apart now with the kids). I like the simple things, though even more...a hug as he walks by, a touch on the arm or a kiss while I am cooking, a smile from across a room. These sweet things along with many inside jokes keep us having fun and enjoying each other.

He will do anything to help me out. Most of his very few days off, he is helping me with housework or other things that need to get done, just because he wants to make my life a little easier. He is selfless towards his family. Chris has such an integrity, loyalty, and work ethic! When those characteristics come together in one person, a lot of good is done. I can sleep soundly at night knowing that I am safe and completely loved. I trust in this man's heart. He will not wander, and he goes out of his way to show me this. For example, he honors me by closing his eyes or changing the channel when commercials come on with women hardly dressed. He makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the room.

Chris has a strong faith. He knows that God loves him, and that Jesus lived and died so that he may have eternal life. Chris tries to live that out each day as he interacts with the students in his classes, the football players, and the staff he works with. He loves on his children, teaching them that they are wonderfully made and loved by God. God teaches me many things as I live beside Chris. I have grown so much over the last 11, well actually 13 years of knowing him.

If you have met Chris, I am sure you liked him immediately. I am humbled that God would bless me so enormously through this man. I love him with all my heart!!!

Happy Anniversary, Chris!!! I love you!!!!