He is the son, the brother - the little guy who grew up in the 70's and 80's who possibly spent some time terrorizing his older sister and spent a vast majority of his time playing with Star Wars toys and GI Joes.
He's a musician. Yeah, we'll stretch it and call him that even though he's mainly just a percussionist - he can also get by on a piano and guitar,and have you ever heard him sing?! He's a soldier. He's a video and computer game playin' guy who loves his Chiefs and KU. And he's good at these things. He's talented. He's smart (I mean, aside from picking the Chiefs as his team). He's fun to hang out with - we love our poker nights, our game nights. And he's there with his often quiet personality to interject his bits of humor and wit at the right times. I think he's so funny.
And these days, he's my husband ... a great man ... a great father. And, it's here where I'll focus my attention, because these are the areas in which I believe he really, really shines, and where I see him on a daily basis.
I love our story - Shawn's and mine. We've been friends for many years now, as we met when we were both in school at Washburn University. I know there was a time way back then when I would have dated him, and possibly wanted to - perhaps there was a time way back then when he felt the same about me. But as life goes...it's all about timing. So back then, it was about the friendship - well, and let's face it, it was also about the studying....the band trips and game nights....marching band, even some choir. Then there was even a time several months after I graduated college where we had some conversations and even one date. I consider it our first, even though it was an isolated incident. It involved dinner and then watching a movie together - a version of Rocky Horror Picture Show put on by a bunch of our friends at Washburn. I also would like to note for the record that I wasn't even lucky enough to get a small little kiss on this date. :) And then in the months after that it definitely went back to just the friendship level. And then in the months after that....I got invited to a wedding....Shawn's. I went to his wedding. The thought of this still blows my mind....:) And then sadly after that, Shawn went through some tough, tough times, with a divorce, and fighting for Tessaira, and dealing with custody issues. I hope that he never has to go through anything so tough again. And yet, through all of this, I truly believe that God was aligning our lives, and our hearts, and working in both of us.....working out the timing in His perfect way, in the way that only He can. I firmly believe that through the years of our friendship, and through all of the events that took place....that this was the only way we'd end up who we were supposed to be, and when we were supposed to be it, and where we were supposed to be......and what led us to each other and our marriage.
Fast forward to 2005...late spring...early summer....I'm not sure when we officially started the dating process, but the important thing is, it was begun at some point around there. ;) Things progressed fairly quickly from there. I was in love with the man he'd become. I always enjoyed him in college - he was an attractive guy - funny, cool, talented. But there was another level to him now. He was a father. And to just be witness to the way he fought for Tessaira, the level of dedication he showed to this life role...and especially to just see them together - it was heart-melting. It showed a side of Shawn to me that I had not known before now, and it honestly is one of the big reasons why I fell in love with him. As our months together progressed, and we spent more time together, it also became very apparent how important family was in general to him. We visited his family frequently, and he was very interested in hanging out with mine; my family had always been very close and this was right up my alley. Combine all of his prior good qualities with these new ones I was seeing....and add to that a bunch of common interests, and the fact that we had a lot of things in common and had a great time together..........
We were engaged by Fall of 2005....married by June 10, 2006!!
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We've had a great marriage - by no means perfect, as a marriage is between two people who are far from perfect themselves. :) I'm so thankful to have him as my life partner - in so many ways he completes me and balances me. He's the calm to my intense, and the "go-with-the-flow" to my "planniness". He works hard to provide for us - he has done so much to keep furthering his military career, always trying to work at promotions, and additional training. And yet, he recognizes the value of being home, and with us....and he's there. I love him for him, all of what he does for us, and the way he makes me feel. And, I really love him for the father that he is to our kids.
Just look at those pictures. He's right there; he's encouraging. He's hands on...he's proud...he supports them. He's a lot of what my dad was to me, and what I've prayed for, for my children. Most important to me though, is that he loves God in his own quiet way, he treats people as such....he lives his life as such....and he will be a constant example of this for them. They're so lucky to have him there as one of their biggest fans, and I'm going to make sure they spend their lives knowing it.
Shawn, today on your birthday...I celebrate all of these things about you that I have mentioned, and the plenty more that I have not. Not a day goes by that I don't just fall down in front of God (sometimes literally, and sometimes figuratively), thanking Him for you. I just want you to know how much you're loved, and how much you mean to all of us, especially your family.
Happy birthday, babe! (Man, you're getting old.) :)
