I’ve known Michael through all of his “stages”. I knew him when he was in the 12-14 year old range and he was FULL of ENERGY! He would come over to our house to hangout with Corey (my younger brother who is 8 years younger than Michael) and he couldn’t make it through an entire movie without coming up with a new, fun idea of something we should all do! One time, his adventurous ideas got us in trouble with momma James. I was probably 10 or 11 and Michael was over at the house and decided that we should play hide and seek…. BABY POWDER! How did this new game work? Well, whoever was “seeking” would squeeze the bottle of baby powder in the face of the person hiding once they were found! It was so much fun! I remember Emy and Corey running and SCREAMING at the top of their lungs with white powder all over their faces… and all over the floor…. and in the cracks of the old hardwood floors… and on the baseboards. My parents came home and the upstairs looked like Narnia!!!
That was a lifetime ago but I still see that fun side of Michael in our married life. Michael THRIVES off of fun times and being with friends. He loves coming up with fun ideas for vacations and leads the way whenever he has a new idea. This is why he’s such a good match for me. I tend to thrive in WORK settings and it’s not that I don’t know how to fun, I just naturally gravitate towards work and my to-do list. He reminds me that life is more than work and what is the point of work if you never get to stop and enjoy what you’ve created? I’m thankful for him and even though I loved the 10-14 year old adventurous Michael and the 15-18 year old cute and popular high school Michael…. my favorite season with Michael is the one that we’re in right now. Marriage isn’t easy and letting God mold and shape you into the spouse He has called us to be for one another can be hard at times but it’s also beautiful. I’m so thankful that I get to be the one who shares life with him and I’m thankful for his 30 years!!!
Happy Birthday Michael! Thank you for being so selfless… for taking care of me and Bokeh … for letting me dream and for reminding me to have balance in our life. You know me better than anyone else on the planet and you’re my safe place… whether we’re in an apartment that smells like garlic or in our dream house. 😃 I would be so much less without you. I can’t wait for our little trip with friends to celebrate you and Jilly’s 30th birthdays!!!! I love you!!!!!
