Catch up post

We had two big events this past week.  
This guy turned 9.  NINE, people!

He's dreamy, guys.  Totally.  There is an occasional moment when I remember he is normal kid that does stupid things, but more often than not, he's just dreamy.  He's quiet and introspective.  He's introverted, yet loves being with his buddies.  He'll spend hours with Legos and draws and draws and draws.  He is funny.  So, so funny, but you have to listen to him amongst the chaos to catch it. He makes my heart pitter patter.  And I'm just so sad about 9.  I love the growing up of the kids.  It's an amazing thing.  They are so much hands on work for what seems like an eternity and then suddenly, not.  They can walk places alone.  Make a sandwich. Tell you their dreams.  Do chores.  They grow up.  And as much as I love that, I miss the squishy-ness of this baby face.  The dark, serious stare still lingers in his chocolate eyes.  He had that has a tiny baby and it still makes me nostalgic for the chubby face that use to look up at me.  He's awesome.  Plain and simple.

Milestone #2 this past week.  14 years married to this guy.

 You guys, it ain't easy some days.  Some days you wake up and your day is going on just so and then your car breaks down and you're stuck in another state for your anniversary and plans change and you drag yourself home late on your anniversary and you're just so tired and it's not how the day was suppose to go.  And it makes you sad and then you remember, it's ok.  Cause you get to sleep next to your favorite person and you remember all the times you didn't have that privilege and it's ok.

Moving through this life with another person isn't easy.  See, we're so different.  Like completely. We've grown in every direction at different times over the years. We don't always see things the same.  We bicker over mundane things.  We fight for the things that matter.   

We parent these four kids together.                                                         

We run a business.  

We pursue our own goals.  

We pursue goals together.  

We know we do this life better together. The ying and yang thing.  The opposites attract thing.   The peas and carrots thing.  He makes me crazy and makes me better.  He challenges me in so many ways.  Ways that have made me better.  For every time I have been mad or upset or annoyed there have been a hundred times I've been giddy, overcome with love, head over heals, and just plain happy.  

It's good stuff, this married thing.  It's encouraging to know you have someone who wants to walk this messy, beautiful life with you.  It's empowering to have someone who wants you to know and pursue your dreams.  It's humbling to have someone who sees all the ugly, tired, anxious, miserable parts of you, and sits in those places with you and then slowly, but surely, encourages you out of those dark places.  It's powerful to be with someone who works and strives so hard to be a great dad.  Not just a good dad or a mediocre dad, but a great dad.  It's kinda awesome to be with someone who slaps your butt as he walks by or winks at you from across the room or occasionally (or all the time) reminds you that he thinks you're hot.  

Days can be difficult and weeks can be long, but I'm sure that it's not as hard as it would be without him.  I'll take another 14 years and more, please.