Here's to you!

I love this man.

We started our lives together amidst a whirlwind of drama, and there certainly wasn't enough time to truly get to know the other person.  All things considered, the odds are not in our favor. 

The amazing thing is, Tyler and I turned out to be better for each other than I could have ever imagined.  Yes, there were some startling discoveries.  And we're in for more as time progresses, I'm sure.  I think no one on earth has caused me more pain than my husband.  And yet, no one has given me more joy.  That's one way you know you've found the right person for you; it's like a relationship with your best friend, but the emotions and the stakes are intensified.  

There have been many nights where I lie awake, bursting with so much love for my husband that all I can do is bask in my happiness, pray and smile, while listening to Tyler's gentle breathing.  Even through our mistakes, God must have been holding us both close to Him, because there's no way I could have found this kind of man in a random manner.  I can see how many women would not be right for him.  Even in our first year of marriage, I have discovered some things about myself that seem perfectly suited for him.  And he has a special brand of tolerance that makes him perfect for me!

Here are some of the things that make Tyler simply awesome:

~  It doesn't bother him that I am extremely needy.  Most of the time that we're home together, I have to be in the same room as him, and he is ok with that.  I adore his mock irritation, when I get forcibly cuddly, and he says, "You're all up ons!"  He says it through a smile and hugs me right back.  

~  He was certain diaper duty would be all mine, until Lincoln actually showed up.  One of my clearest memories about the hospital stay, drugged up though I was, is Tyler getting poop on his hand and smiling as big as you can imagine.  "It's okay, because you're my son.  You came from me," he whispered to the baby.  Tyler loves being a father; you can just see it in his eyes when he looks at our boy.  

~  I can amuse him without even trying.  Something about my quirks hits Tyler's funny bone in just the right way.  I make him laugh quite often, and that in turn makes me laugh.  

~  We were raised in different religious settings, but instead of letting that put a wedge between us, Tyler and I were equally determined to find a church that worked for both of us.  It took a long time, and quite a few tries, but finally we found one.  This is probably the coolest thing about Tyler, and I give thanks to God all the time for it.  Above all else, this is what gives me faith and hope that our marriage will be secure, even in the worst of times.

~  Both of us bring our own area of maturity to the table.  He is money smart, and manages our resources like a pro.  I can rest assured that he takes care of things like bills and investments with the kind of responsibility that makes an ideal head of the family.  And I offer a level head when it comes to stressful situations.  A lot of damage can be done simply out of irritation or anger, and I try to steer us both away from explosions.  We each recognize each other's strengths and learn from them.  Our tax return is pretty hefty this year.  And you know what we're doing with the money?  It's going into my IRA.  Tyler wants a flat screen TV just as much as the next guy, but he never even suggested such a purchase.  This is the kind of man that cares about his wife's future more than his toys.  

~ For better or for worse, our parents are still married.  Both sets.  I am proud and amazed by this fact.  What's really cool about my in laws is that they genuinely like my parents, and vice versa.  We have so much fun when we all get together.  How unique is that?  I'm so lucky!

These are just a few reasons why my marriage to Tyler is such a blessing.