Happy Birthday, Erik!
Just before going inside tonight, after a full day's worth of yard work, the kids exclaimed in excitement, "Look up!" We did, and right above us floated hundreds of helium filled balloons. The kids all said that it was for Erik's birthday (more likely they came from the Peoria Sports Complex), but it was quite the sight. The wind had been blowing energetically all day long, and it sailed those colorful balloons along, and then up and out of sight.
We had some German Chocolate cake in Erik's honor tonight, but because of James' nut allergy he had chocolate Teddy Grahams (he was ecstatic).
In celebration of Erik's last year in his 30's, here are 39 things that I love about Erik:
1) He is great tech support, and acts very thrilled for me when I figure computer things out on my own.
2) He surprises me by making the bed, when he rolls out of it.
3) He makes really good scrambled eggs, and pancakes.
4) He has really great hair (after all, I did fall in love with the back of his head), and then there is that distinguishing white spot in the front. Nobody forgets who Erik is once he tells them the story of his white spot.
5) He helps me "even out" when I'm upset.
6) He works hard for our family, each and every day.
7) He helps me with my "little projects."
8) He makes me laugh, and he laughs at the things I say.
9) He is really smart, and knows all kinds of crazy words (I don't love that about him when we're playing Boggle or Scrabble - well, I do love it about him - I just pretend that I don't). We like to spar when we play games together.
10) He still plays Boggle and Scrabble with me, even though he's pretty sure that he'll win. What a good sport!
11) He generally loses to me when we play the game Set. (Ready for a re-match, sweetie?)
12) He is a good looking man, especially when he's wearing his suit!
13) Our kids love him!
14) He sings well, and loves to sing. And he smiles at me from the Bishopric stand when we start singing a hymn as a congregation. The hymns of the church, mean as much to him as they do for me.
15) How creative he is - decorating gingerbread cookies, painting eggs, drawing, writing poetry, making his own slippers out of yarn, etc. etc.
16) He loves the Lord, and always has. I love it when he tells the story of refusing to go hunting anymore with his uncles on Sundays, after he received the priesthood at the age of 12.
17) His hands. I might have fallen in love with the back of his head, but it was his hands that clinched the deal. I had gone to the singles ward to see if I could find him and meet him, but I couldn't introduce myself to him, or sit near him because he was at the Priest's table preparing the sacrament. I knew then, at that moment, that he was one who honored the priesthood and his responsibility in carrying out Christ's work here on earth. I have watched countless times over the years, as his hands have blessed other people's lives - through a handshake, a blessing upon their head, shoveling rock or painting someone's house. I love Erik's hands!
18) The way he holds my hand.
19) Watching him wrestle with the boys.
20) Watching him play basketball - or badminton - or frisbee - or take a bike ride with the kids.
21) When he "holds down the fort" so that I can have some much needed "Jeanette Time." Thanks.
22) Hiking or camping with him. He does like to be in nature.
23) The way we "argue" about things - Utah mountains vs. Arizona mountains, New York City vs. upstate New York, etc.
24) The fact that he wanted to be with me forever, for eternity, here and now, and after we die, so he took me to the temple to be sealed together forever.
25) That he values and agrees with me about important things like parenthood, finances, religion, and our goals.
26) His backrubs. Oh, my word. I swear he should have been a masseuse. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. My back and neck LOVES you, Erik.
27) He gives some really great foot rubs too.
28) What a thirsty reader he is. Can't ever keep the man stocked with enough books:)
29) What a good friend he is to others. He's still very close to many of his childhood friends, and still acts like he's the Home Teacher to friends that he made in the Glendale First Ward, and checks up on and keeps in contact with many friends that he's made through the years.
30) The ability he has to connect with others. He accepts everyone for who they are at the moment, but can also see the great potential that is waiting to blossom.
31) Listening to his missionary stories.
32) The smile and the light in his eyes that he reserves only for me.
33) The fact that he will help clean the house.
34) Canning applesauce with him in the heat of Arizona's June.
35) His understanding for my need for personal space.
36) His 51% Swedish blood.
37) The selfless service he gives: donating blood and platelets all those years (until he had to take blood thinners), taking food for the homeless people he knew he would see on the way to work, and the other secret acts of kindness that he does behind the scenes.
38) How he's not afraid to act like a little kid when he's with our kids - like skipping through the parking lot.
AND 39) The way he completes me in a way that no one else has ever done. He truly is my other half, and I count myself blessed to have him for a husband, a friend, a father to my children, and a soft place to fall yesterday, today, tomorrow, and always.
HAPPY 39TH BIRTHDAY, ERIK! I LOVE YOU.
Love,
J.
3) He makes really good scrambled eggs, and pancakes.
4) He has really great hair (after all, I did fall in love with the back of his head), and then there is that distinguishing white spot in the front. Nobody forgets who Erik is once he tells them the story of his white spot.
5) He helps me "even out" when I'm upset.
6) He works hard for our family, each and every day.
7) He helps me with my "little projects."
8) He makes me laugh, and he laughs at the things I say.
9) He is really smart, and knows all kinds of crazy words (I don't love that about him when we're playing Boggle or Scrabble - well, I do love it about him - I just pretend that I don't). We like to spar when we play games together.
10) He still plays Boggle and Scrabble with me, even though he's pretty sure that he'll win. What a good sport!
11) He generally loses to me when we play the game Set. (Ready for a re-match, sweetie?)
12) He is a good looking man, especially when he's wearing his suit!
13) Our kids love him!
14) He sings well, and loves to sing. And he smiles at me from the Bishopric stand when we start singing a hymn as a congregation. The hymns of the church, mean as much to him as they do for me.
15) How creative he is - decorating gingerbread cookies, painting eggs, drawing, writing poetry, making his own slippers out of yarn, etc. etc.
16) He loves the Lord, and always has. I love it when he tells the story of refusing to go hunting anymore with his uncles on Sundays, after he received the priesthood at the age of 12.
17) His hands. I might have fallen in love with the back of his head, but it was his hands that clinched the deal. I had gone to the singles ward to see if I could find him and meet him, but I couldn't introduce myself to him, or sit near him because he was at the Priest's table preparing the sacrament. I knew then, at that moment, that he was one who honored the priesthood and his responsibility in carrying out Christ's work here on earth. I have watched countless times over the years, as his hands have blessed other people's lives - through a handshake, a blessing upon their head, shoveling rock or painting someone's house. I love Erik's hands!
18) The way he holds my hand.
19) Watching him wrestle with the boys.
20) Watching him play basketball - or badminton - or frisbee - or take a bike ride with the kids.
21) When he "holds down the fort" so that I can have some much needed "Jeanette Time." Thanks.
22) Hiking or camping with him. He does like to be in nature.
23) The way we "argue" about things - Utah mountains vs. Arizona mountains, New York City vs. upstate New York, etc.
24) The fact that he wanted to be with me forever, for eternity, here and now, and after we die, so he took me to the temple to be sealed together forever.
25) That he values and agrees with me about important things like parenthood, finances, religion, and our goals.
26) His backrubs. Oh, my word. I swear he should have been a masseuse. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. My back and neck LOVES you, Erik.
27) He gives some really great foot rubs too.
28) What a thirsty reader he is. Can't ever keep the man stocked with enough books:)
29) What a good friend he is to others. He's still very close to many of his childhood friends, and still acts like he's the Home Teacher to friends that he made in the Glendale First Ward, and checks up on and keeps in contact with many friends that he's made through the years.
30) The ability he has to connect with others. He accepts everyone for who they are at the moment, but can also see the great potential that is waiting to blossom.
31) Listening to his missionary stories.
32) The smile and the light in his eyes that he reserves only for me.
33) The fact that he will help clean the house.
34) Canning applesauce with him in the heat of Arizona's June.
35) His understanding for my need for personal space.
36) His 51% Swedish blood.
37) The selfless service he gives: donating blood and platelets all those years (until he had to take blood thinners), taking food for the homeless people he knew he would see on the way to work, and the other secret acts of kindness that he does behind the scenes.
38) How he's not afraid to act like a little kid when he's with our kids - like skipping through the parking lot.
AND 39) The way he completes me in a way that no one else has ever done. He truly is my other half, and I count myself blessed to have him for a husband, a friend, a father to my children, and a soft place to fall yesterday, today, tomorrow, and always.
HAPPY 39TH BIRTHDAY, ERIK! I LOVE YOU.
Love,
J.
3 comments:
What a wonderful birthday tribute! Happy Birthday Bishop Brewer...thank you for all you do. We love you - The Dorsey Family
That was a great list, Jeanette! It's good to know that knucklehead is good for something. ;)
Happy birthday bro!
Happy birthday Erik! What nice things you wrote about him!
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