Butterflies Blessings

THIS^^IS my husband. When he was deployed in 09/10. He's a hunk... It's ok to wipe the drool from your chin now, I won't tell! Well, yesterday (August 8, 2013), that hunk turned OLD. Not that old, I will admit, but I'm always going to be 3 years younger than him, so to me, he's OLD! Twenty-eight. That is what I consider OLD now.

We started the day with his gifts, because he is like a 3 year old when it comes to something wrapped with his name on it. Star Trek T-shirt.. Immediately put on. His favorite pens for work.. pushed aside, and OUT came the game of "settlers of Catan"... the thing we can't go to any store with a game isle and NOT look at for 20 minutes while he explains how the mass $$$$ involved in purchasing the game is WORTH it.

OH. And since you got all drooly earlier... Here is us, when he was on Leave from that deployment, making kissy, at a Casino. It was a FUN night, but, it had some crazy moments too, do to an OVERLY-drunk friend. (SMH...)

As hubby opened his gifts, and his face lit up with each thing, I realized how much TIME has changed us. In the photos above, we didn't know what we know now. We took a LOT for granted. We didn't have baby Brice, or Soph's memory... We had one, very spoiled 2 year old, and a huge array of "problems.." you know the ones... "We NEVER have enough cheese. Why can't I get beer tonight? You seriously spent 150 on your HAIR? You seriously spent $300 on an XBOX? Your shoes are going OUT the window. STOP leaving crap everywhere" <<< "Problems". The problems that cause fights and words like "HATE" come spilling out of your mouth.

It's so funny. We laugh at those moments now.. the young NAIVE us, who knew nothing of love, or time, or how to cherish the blessings of each. We really didn't know eachother then, as I'm sure we really don't know eachother now like we will in 5 years. What I do know, is that this man, is my best friend. I don't have to hide anything from him, and can be myself 24/7 with little criticization (I'm .. .a bit much sometimes I'll admit) I know his favorite almost everythings, his shoe size, what kind of ice cream hes in the mood for, and his past. AND, I love him for them. For his choices, for his mistakes, for his openness of his religion... but even more than that.

I love him because even in times when the walls are closing so fast around us, and there have been MANY of those times, he has never stopped providing, loving, smiling, and thanking god for the days. He has inspired me to rely on god, and trust him, and trust HIM. It's obvious that we were meant to be on so many levels. As we mourn our daughter death, and contimplate the life we will now have, most days are filled with tears and smiles. As this next year unfolds for my husband and I, I can't help but hope that next year, no matter what god gives us, I hope we can grow even closer. I hope I look back on this year and "laugh" at the troubles we "faced" and the big moments that seemed so Impossible at the time. I hope Sophia's Blessings become more obvious to us, and the smiles overcome the tears. I also hope, that hubby reads this, and knows that I love him dearly, even though, he is OLD!!! <3