my love

No, this is now a post about buttered noodles, or babies, or bubble baths, or books. It's not even about pens!! Although I do enjoy all of these things, if I added them up the sum would be no where close to what this is about. Tomorrow marks a special day-- it is the day Brent was born.

Now, before you all bail on me because you fear this is already a bit cheesy, please hang with me.

For those of you that don't know, I used to write letters to my "future husband." I began in junior high ad by the time I got married I had quite the collection. Some of the letters contained trivial details of my life, some were questions, some were dreams of our future together, and others were wonderings. Some of these wonderings included: "I wonder when your birthday is? If it's today, I wonder how you are choosing to celebrate? I can't wait until we can celebrate together."

As I folded up these almost foolish, adolescent wonderings and put them in a box, my life, my future, was unfolding before me. I was over at a guy's house-- whose name happened to be Brent-- hanging out with some of my best friends. I remember being nervous about which card to give him-- I wanted him to think I was clever and fun, but not childish; that I appreciated him, but didn't want him to know I liked him. So I picked a humorous card, he laughed, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I moved into the kitchen to help him cut up the cake and bring it to our friends who were spread out in the living room of a house I didn't know would become a part of me... a house whose breathing I would eventually know by heart.

While cutting up the cake together, he jokes with me about scrapping my college plans and attending his college. My heart jumps as I analyze the potential of what this means and why he would want me to go to the same school as him....but he quickly says, "Because if I get someone else to sign up I get $100 off my tuition." Oh. And I serve the cake.

We end up sitting on opposite couches to watch a movie (Finding Nemo had just come out on DVD) and as animated sea life flutters about on the screen before me, I can't help but glance at the birthday boy. I wonder if he has done the same to me. After a final round of "Happy Birthdays" and cake we all part ways. I tuck this night away in my bag of memories and go back to my wonderings.

I didn't know that his next birthday I would be invited back to this house, and that he would hold my hand. I didn't know then that a few years later I would spend his birthday with his ring on my finder, or that later he would be the one to read my birthday wonderings that had been tucked away in a box for so many years.

And I didn't know then that tomorrow I would be celebrating the birthday of my love.

I am so glad it was him I was wondering about all those years.

Brent: That birthday at your house was five years ago...I'm so proud to have celebrated with you every year since. You are deserving of a great day. At only 24 years of age you've proved yourself trustworthy, selfless, humble, hard working, generous, courageous, and so very kind. Thank you for making me laugh when I want to scream, for letting me cry when I want to pretend everything is okay, and for loving God first, over me. You deserve a truly wonderful day. Thank you, Beck and Joan, for bringing this incredible man into the world, and thank you, Brent, for choosing me as the lucky one who gets to eat birthday cake with you for many years to come!

I don't know if you remember but... "Happy Birthday" "Happy Birthday" "I like corn on the cob" -"Pay no attention to Stephanie"

I love you, Brent. Happy Birthday!

(Please leave Brent a comment to wish him a happy birthday, and as a bonus present for him, let him know a trait in him that you admire or appreciate! Thanks!) One of Brent's all time favorite pictures of us