Birthday Wish

Today is my birthday and having started this blog to show one way I express my love for her, I am writing a very public love declaration to Jen.

Image by Janis Nicolay

Jen, as probably all of you know, is an incredible woman - she is talented, creative, beautiful, generous, ambitious, honest, loyal and loves Jesus.  We've been together for a very long time, against an enormous set of odds and I love her more every day.  Through everything, I've always told her that it was her smile that caught me, her eyes that captivated me, but her heart that kept me.

And that's the truth. Jen, above all, is heart. She puts her all into everything she does - whether it's running her business, playing around, or giving to someone in need. She is always first to reach into her pocket when she sees someone needing, and grieves for them privately after as she prays. She thanks me for all the things I do for her, and keeps an incredibly tidy house. She expresses her faith from the depth of her soul, and never misses a chance to do it. She treats everyone with respect, with dignity, and yet asserts herself with confidence.

Image by Yvonne Wong

I love that she notices the little things. I love that she hates my corny jokes and isn't afraid to tell me. I love that she is driven. I love that she twitches to do work while trying to relax, yet finds enough time to spend close to me. I love that we can walk and talk for blocks on end in the afternoons, that she loves her family with fervor, and that it's always authentic, always genuine.

I love Jennifer. I always have. She is my world and everything in it, and she's made that everything even better than I could have imagined.