5 Years

I realize I cannot say enough about the woman who agreed to marry me 5 years ago, and I overuse the words "amazing" and "wonderful," even though she is. The truth is I find it easy to write about some things, but when it comes to writing about Abby, it's not so much that I cannot find the words as it is the words may never end. She was born to be a mother, yet she could easily be successful at anything else she wants (and is). She is the person who holds this family together. She is an amazing cook, and even the one thing she makes that I don't like is amazing according to everyone else. She has impeccable taste in everything. She looks good in anything. She loves me even when I break my glasses and have to wear prescription lab glasses around the house. She has given me beautiful daughters. It's not official, but I strongly suspect that she's the smart one in this relationship, and I'm okay with that (as long as it remains unofficial). She makes me want to be successful. She loves when Dateline or 20/20 feature true crime stories, and although they largely make me nervous, I love how ardently she likes them and insists that we watch them together. She once broke a small bone in her foot doing a silly dance in our first apartment, and I learned that it wasn't the first time. She has great friends and is a great friend. I love when she and Annie and Amelia are waiting on the porch for me at then end of the day. She reads really good books, which encourages me to do the same. She craves deeper knowledge of God, which encourages me to do the same. I still feel extremely proud that she is with me when we're out on a date. She enjoys eating outside, and the thought of someplace warm year round makes her happy. She cannot stand when someone has their windshield wipers on even 2 seconds after the rain has stopped -- I found this out on our second date. She wants to be adored -- I found this out on our fourth. She saved my life 5 1/2 years ago, and she's given me a life that the Phil of then doesn't deserve. My girls make this a truly wonderful life.

Below are some pictures of my beautiful (!!!) wife taken 5 years ago in our first apartment. They were taken by Lauren Carpenter (Thank you Lauren -- you're an incredible photog.).

Thanks for who you are, Abby. I adore you now more than ever!