For the love of my life...

Okay, so I meant to do this post several months ago, when Wes and I hit our 7 year anniversary (October 4th), but with the craziness of wedding season and the preparations for the adoption of our twins in Ethiopia, time got away from me.

But this post is for you, my Wesley.  I love you with all my heart.

Seriously, how much more gorgeous can he get?

Have I ever told you about how Wes and I met?  Well, I'll give you the short version.  I had been out of school for about a year and a half, and I had just gotten back from about 5 weeks in India.  I needed a job.  I had heard that the airlines were hiring, so I went over to our local airport and walked up to the Continental counter.  There stood Wes.  I asked him if he was the manager.  And with quite a bit of attitude, he said, "I wish, " and then walked away and got the actual manager.

I started at Continental Express Airlines in March of 2002.  When I walked in for my first day of work, Wes's buddy, Josh (who also worked there at the time) made this strange whistle sound to Wes.  It was some kind of silent communication they had.  (I later found out that they made this whistle any time a hot girl came around, or any time it seemed like a guy and girl were into each other.)  I still remember that after 7 years.

Fast forward about 8 months, and I broke up with my Mexican boyfriend (who lived in Mexico).  Everyone noticed that Wes and I flirted with each other from time to time, so as soon as everyone found out that I had broken up with my boyfriend, they all teased Wes, saying that he was going to ask me out.  Well, he kind of did.  He told me one day when we went to the grocery store together after work, "You know, I could see myself going out with 2 girls."  And then he told me the name of some other girl at the airport, and then me.  I know, who uses that kind of line to tell someone they like them?  Wes.  And honestly, it was pretty endearing.  It was his way of telling me that he liked me, and was very interested.

 

It moved pretty quickly after that.  One night a couple weeks later (December 20, 2002), we kissed for the first time.  And from there on out we were pretty much inseparable.  But about 2 months later (because it was already in the plans before we started dating), I headed off to Nepal for 4 wonderful months.  Wes flew to Nepal the last week I was in Nepal.  We flew back to the States together, but decided to meet up with my parents and hang out in Bergen, Norway for a few days (where my mother is from).  And a couple of days into our stay in Bergen, on top of a beautiful mountain, where the midnight sun was high in the sky at 10pm.....as we were overlooking the sea, the mountains, and the fjords, Wes got down on one knee and proposed.  It was a beautiful moment.

The view from where Wes proposed.  Bergen, Norway.

We got married about 3 months later on October 4th, 2003. We had a couple of really difficult first years of marriage, then got into some really awesome years of marriage, and here we are over 7 years later.

We are about to become parents of two beautiful little children.  The two of us have had some rough spots even in this last year, as we have struggled through some of our own baggage in the midst of the anticipation of this adoption.  It hasn't all been daisies and roses, but it has all been worth it.   I have to say that since we received the referral for our sweet ones, it seems like Wes and I have grown closer and closer.  I mean, we've always had a blast together, and we've always been best friends, and we say "I love you," about a million times a day, but these last four months have been special.  We are a bundle of nerves as we prepare to leave in less than 48 hours now.  Wes's stomach has been upset for the past few days, and my legs have been achy, and the other day I even found it painful to breath for a while.  Stress much?  :)  But we are excited.  We are in love.  We are one.


Wesley, my Wesley, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways....
-I love the way you pace the floors when you're watching Kentucky basketball.
-I love the way you crack up whenever you watch Scooby Doo or Danger Mouse.
-I love the way you nurse an itty bitty glass of bourbon for hours as you work on your writing.
-I love that no matter how many times I tell you your Jerry Clower jokes are not funny, you keep telling me them anyways, always hoping that one day I will laugh.
-I love how passionate you get about pretty much anything.
-I love that you will sing your heart out, even if you aren't in the right key.  You don't care, because you love to sing, and I love that.
-I love that you love to cook for us, and are always willing to make dinner after a long day of hard work.
-I love how great you are with our friends' kids.  You are SO great with kids.
-I love how compassionate you are, and how willing you are to help anyone in need.
-I love how unselfish you are, and how you have taught me so much about giving.
-I love that you are such a wonderful and patient teacher.  You have taught me how to shoot a basketball with good form.  You made me learn to shoot with my left hand, which I hated at first, because I told you it was impossible.  Now I can shoot pretty well with my left hand and I love you for that.
-I love how passionate you are about the Word, and how you really study and think about it.
-I love your obsession with good pens.
-I love that you love almost any food out there.  Nepali food, Chinese food, Ethiopian food....you get excited about it all.
-I love that you are quicker than me at whipping out pictures of our babies to show anyone who cares.
-I love how excited you get about teaching Alex & Eliana about good literature, and of course I love how excited you get about teaching them to shoot a basketball the right way.
-I love that you tell me when you are nervous or scared about being a parent (because I am too)
-I love that you tell me you love me no matter who's around.
-I love that you tell me you love me even after a two second conversation on the phone.
-I love your blue eyes.
-I love your big lips.
-I love your curly hair.
-I love the twinkle in your eye when you smile, which looks like you've got a secret that you are excited to tell me.
-I love how you love me.
-I love you.

I am so excited to walk this journey with you, Wesley!  There is no one else I'd rather walk it with.  You are an amazing husband and my best friend, and soon you will be the greatest Daddy the world has ever seen.  I love you!

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I thought I'd go hippie here in honor of the two days we have left until we leave.  Peace.