Cheryl, the Love of My Life

These are the faces of two people who truly love each other. I'm never more happy than when I see this pretty girl's face. Her blue eyes make my heart skip a beat, and regardless of how old we become, there is never a moment when I don't think about her and how my life is so much better because of her being in it.

We've been through a lot, endured a lot, experienced a lot, and continued to live strong for God despite each and every thing which has tried to stop us. I can honestly say if it hadn't been for her at my side, I would never have become the man I am. I think back sometimes to what might have been if I'd married someone else, and it just makes me so incredibly thankful to God for allowing our paths to have crossed so many years ago.

With my oldest son fixing to get married in a couple of weeks, it has me reminiscing back to the days before we were married. A time when I had no clue about what I was getting into. All I could think was this gorgeous woman has agreed to marry me, why? What could she have seen in me to make her want to spend her life with me? I first thought it was my ponytail, but later found out that wasn't the case. Ha!

If you're married, then thank God for your spouse, if you're not married begin to thank God for your future spouse, He will bring the perfect person for you at just the right time, when you're ready. Don't hurry it, just follow Him and they will show up. I was not looking for Cheryl when I found her, I was pursuing Jesus and all He had for me, and then she arrived. And if you are married and struggling, race to Jesus, for He will help put your marriage back to where it should be, just don't give up, it's worth fighting for.

I love my wife, oh we have our moments some days, but it doesn't change the fact I want to spend every moment I can with her, even if it is just playing Words with Friends while sitting in our recliners watching Big Bang Theory. She gives my life meaning, and fulfills me in a way no other person on this Earth can. Cheryl I love you more than ever and this will never change. I mean it when I say, "Baby, you're the greatest!"

Happy Birthday Baby

Today is my lovely bride Cheryl's birthday. I won't tell you how old she is, not because I think she'd care, but because I was taught never to talk about a lady's age. I have been married to this beautiful girl for 26 years, actually August 27th it will be 27 years to be exact. One thing this many years of marriage brings, is a comfortableness of being with each other. What I mean by this, is we don't have to put on a big show for one another. There's no drama, we love each other plain and simple.

One thing I do regret is my seemingly inability to plan ahead for her birthday. It's a special day to be sure, one I appreciate greatly because if she hadn't been born, then there'd be no us, no kids, no life together. And I like this life I've lived with Cheryl, even with the ups and downs, disappointments, failures and loss. My life truly is better because of her. But it seems every year her birthday creeps up on me, and I find myself scrambling to do something; which in turn then makes me feel like a horrible husband.

This year is no different, a couple of days ago I realized her birthday was only a few days away and thought, "Crap! I've done it again." What I want her to know is how special she is to me. There truly is no other person on this planet I would rather spend time with than her. I think about her often, and when I do, I'm always amazed she chose to spend her life with me, I mean it really shocks me some times. I wonder what it was she saw in me to make her say, "This is the guy for me!" And when I don't have something special for her birthday it makes me think I'm not worthy of her.

But I digress, today's blog is not supposed to be about me and how I feel on her special day, but about this woman whom I've been privileged to live with for so many years. Without any further ado, let me recite a little poem about the love of my life, Cheryl.

Cheryl, the Love of My Life

Cheryl, we've been together,

For oh, so many years,

Through this life we seen much greatness,

And more than our share of tears.

I've often wondered why,

You would have chosen me,

I know it wasn't for the money,

Or fame and celebrity.

XX years ago,

You came into this Earth,

And I'm pretty sure that angels,

Heralded your birth.

The day on which you were born,

God put His plan in place,

To bring into existence,

A woman of beauty and grace.

In Proverbs thirty-one,

Solomon talks about a wife,

She is virtuous, noble and true,

And brings happiness and life.

I know he was writing this about you,

Because you're these things and more,

You really are the whole package dear,

And make my heart to soar.

So enjoy your special day today,

Regardless of what you have to do,

Just know that you have a very blessed man,

who is really, really in love with you!

I truly am a blessed man, and if I spent the rest of my day writing about all the things she is to me, and how she has been a blessing to all of those around her, the sun would rise and set before I could finish. Cheryl is a wonderful woman, who brings beauty and grace everywhere she goes. I Love You Cheryl!

You'll Never Know

I've been married for 26 years, soon to be 27, and in all the time we've been together one of my favorite things is when we are apart.  Now I know you may be thinking what a callous and unloving man.  But give me a second to explain. I love being apart from my bride because it reaffirms how much my love for her is there.

When we are apart my thoughts linger on what she means to me more because she's not there.  The old saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder is really true.  Now don't get me wrong, I Ike having her around, it does something to my soul knowing the woman of my dreams loves me and is there, even if it's just us sitting in our recliners after a hard day of work. To look over and see her beautiful face (usually in the soft glow of her cellphone's screen light) makes my heart go pitter pat.

I often wonder about men who complain about their wives, griping about things they do which make them mad. What makes me wonder, is these guys rarely say anything nice about their brides which makes me wonder how they actually talk to them. And they wonder why their marriage isn't what they think it should be.

All  I know is when my lady is gone I miss her, and truthfully long for her. Don't get me wrong I'm a big boy and can take care of myself, but it's in these times we are apart I really come to realize how good I really do have it. I'm a blessed man because of you Cheryl, and I love you!

My Princess is About to Become a Queen

Two weeks from tomorrow, my baby girl is getting married.  And as a dad, I've got all types of emotions running through my mind.  And they range from fear to totally excited.  My daughter has always been happy, but the past few months as the day approaches, she's been giddy.  The smile on her face just can't get any bigger.  

I've done quite a bit of reflecting in the past several months too. Questions about whether I've done enough or even given her the right tools to make it out there in the world have swirled through my mind like a maelstrom.  It's been interesting to say the least.

April, or Sissy as I like to call her, had my heart from the moment the doctor pulled her out, and it is true when they say a little girl can melt her daddy's heart with just a smile.  I was thinking just the other day about how I used to hold her in my arms and dance around he room singing to her.  And in just two weeks I'll be dancing with her at her wedding, where she will look radiant.  I can't wait to see her in her wedding dress.

My little girl is growing up and becoming a woman.  No longer will she be my little princess, she has found her knight in shining armor and on March 7th will become his queen.  Exciting times ahead for sure.

As I was thinking about this blog, I remembered a video I made for her 7 years ago set to the song Fingerprints of God by Steven Curtis Chapman, it brought a tear to my eyes. Click here if you'd like to see it.  

Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!

Ooh Wee I'm Blessed!!

When she walks into the room, she carries herself with such a beauty and grace it makes me scratch my head in wonder. Truthfully, I'm often amazed this woman who I've spent the past 26+ years with actually chose me to be the man she wanted to travel this journey we call life.

When I say amazed, I really mean it too. There is not one day which goes by I don't think of how extremely blessed I am because of Cheryl. Now this is not to put her on a pedestal. I know she isn't perfect in the actual sense of the word, but who is really?  We say things like, "Oh you're perfect baby." Or "There's never been anyone better than you."  Unfortunately, these things are brought on by a little gland inside our brains which makes us "feel" in love.  But shortly after the initial attraction wears off, and this gland stops secreting it's fluid, we can wake up and think, "Who is this I'm with? Their breath stinks!"

Now before you label me as some type of pig who doesn't love his wife, when I tell Cheryl I love her it is not because of this gland giving me some type of feeling, it is because despite always having a feeling I choose to love her daily.  Yeah I know, that's not going to make it onto any Hallmark cards anytime soon, but it is true.

I believe from the bottom of my heart that Cheryl is the greatest woman on this planet. She's a beautiful, intelligent, funny, hard working, beautiful, smart, full of life and sass, beautiful family oriented and beautiful woman.  Did I mention she's beautiful?  I love my bride daily because I choose to do so.

With both of my kids fixing to get married, one of my prayers is they will experience the joys of married life like Cheryl and I have. I pray they will be able to look past the little things which will annoy each other and find in their future spouses what I have found, a true ally and my very best friend.  Because in the end it's not the "feelings" which matter as much as having a partner to travel life with, who is there to help in time of need and to share some laughs as well.

Cheryl, I've said it before and I'll keep saying it as long as I have breath, baby, you're the greatest, and I love you!