Grateful for this man....

Today the love of my life turns the BIG 40!!!! While he is probably going to dislike the fact that I publicly announced this on my blog, as he keeps saying it is a birthday he wants to forget….I am going to celebrate it and celebrate him! I could write a list of 40 reasons why I love this incredible man, but I would make him blush, and I could write a list of 40 things you probably didn’t know about this special man, but honestly I could write a book and wouldn’t know what 40 things to pick. So instead I am going to write a list of why I am grateful to our Creator, the one that breathed life into us, for this incredible husband of mine.

So my grateful list will be dedicated to the one that the Lord choose for me to spend my life with. Happy Birthday my LOVE! I can’t wait for the next 40!! :o)

I am grateful for my wonderful, incredible, sexy, amazing husband (don’t worry I censored the rest of the things that I really wanted to say) because:

1. He loves the Lord with all of his heart and soul and seeks to live his life for HIM, even when it is so hard, so difficult and he has been put down for it.

2. The Bible is the most important book in his life. It is what sustains him, keeps him going, encourages him, challenges him, excites him and he shares that with me and his kids. It is the inherent Word of God that he respects, defends and adheres to.

3. He is willing to stand up and speak out for those that do not have a voice, for those that God has really put a burden on his heart for.

4. His heart breaks and aches for the down trodden of this world. He gets so upset for those that are suffering, less fortunate, hurting, and for those that have been wronged. He has the most amazing, sensitive heart. He does take it really personal which worries his wife at times.

5. He has taken the narrow road his entire life and has been falsely accused, wrongly accused, put down, tossed aside, rejected, maligned, yet he still keeps on going, keeps on sharing the gospel and acknowledges that Jesus is Lord of his life. His testimony amazes me, inspires me, even though I know it has been hard and there have been so many struggles and he doesn’t like to share the dark parts of his life openly, God really has been with him and has a plan for his life.

6. If it weren’t for him and for the amazing ways that God used him to work in my life, I really don’t know where I would be. My spiritual journey has been strengthened, encouraged, challenged so much by him and by his willingness to listen to God. So many amazing stories I could tell about how we met, the events, the dreams, the times that God really spoke to us and showed us that this union of ours was meant to be. God is great and so is my husband for being willing to listen to Him and not give up on me and put up with my many faults and crazy stubbornness at times! ;o)

7. He is an incredible Father to our kids. He plays with them, sings with them, dances with them, talks to them, listens to them, kisses and hugs them and tells them how much he loves them and most importantly how much Jesus loves them. He is so involved in their lives, he cares so deeply for them. He admits when he makes mistakes and asks for their forgiveness, he apologizes when he gets short with them and tells them that no matter what he always loves them. It really is incredible to watch this daddy with his little angels.

8. He is honest, open, and extremely forthright. He is not afraid to speak the truth. I have the utmost respect for him and see what an amazing man of integrity he is.

9. He loves to travel and explore as much as I do. He loves to experience new cultures, new foods, new lands and new languages. How will God use this I wonder? :o)

10. He has this whacky sense of humour. He makes me laugh and makes me smile as I think about all of his quirky sayings and actions. I do have to admit, that most people don't get his sense of humour (and it took me a bit too)! :o)

Happy 40th birthday John!!! I love you with all of my heart and feel honoured to celebrate your birthday with you.