Happy Birthday to me!  I have such a sweet husband.  He sent me 50 emails today.  Here they are: (Sorry for the long post, but had to share!)

1. Happy Birthday, Lover Girl.   I hope you have a great day!   Love,  John

2. You have brought so much happiness into my life.

3. I'm so grateful that you said "yes."

4.  I love you because you are so friendly.

5. I love you because you are so smart.

6. I love you because you care so much about others.

7. I love you because you are wise.

8. I love you because you are responsible.

9. I love you for your laugh.

10. I love you for your beauty.

11. I love you because you are so affectionate.

12. I love the way you greet me when I return home.

13. I love your faith.

14. You are a team player.

15. I love being your team-mate.

16. You are worthy to go to the temple.

17. Places and events are better when you are there.

18. We met on the bus.

19. We began our lives together.

20. We had Thomas together.

21. We moved to San Diego and had Nathan together.

22. We enjoyed the beach together with our little family.

23. You worked so hard to help ends meet. I felt sad about that sometimes.

24. We had Jacob together.

25. We moved to Virginia. We discovered Bobby Dubba, the Rhonda River, and mountains that were rainbows.

26. We took the greatest family vacation ever (“They ate my lunch!”).

27. We went to North Carolina, flew kites, and got bit by crabs and flies.

28. We moved to Utah and bought our first home.

29. Every time I see your smile, I’m amazed and thrilled that we are together.

30. Last little one trots off to school for the first time and you go back for the first time in many years.

31. It was the season of boys, pinewood derby cars, tenderfoot scouts, and first grade fun.

32.  Years of being a Boy Scout mom begins as the second priesthood holder in the home gets ordained.

33. The children continue to grow as Nathan graduates from elementary school.

34. Our first vacation to Hawaii.

35. Our last one finishes elementary school.

36. You are working so hard to finish your degree. It’s tough, but the end is in sight.

37. GRADUATION!!!! (for Tom and YOUUUUUU!)    yea!

38. A son in college??? Nobody believes you because you are so young and cute!

39. Moon palace and your very first SCUBA adventure.

Nathan graduates and Tom leaves for Denmark. You shed a tear or two.

40. Forty years old! Time for a Florida vacation with Sarah (that was quite a current).

41. Tom’s home, so its back to Hawaii we go to enjoy our last vacation with all three boys as single men (followed by a private week on Kauai).

42. Jakey graduates, and just like that, a chapter has ended.

43. Seems like just a short time ago when the last one trotted off to kindergarten, and now he’s off to college.  The nest is getting emptier by the minute.   But we’re OK with it, because we finally got a daughter! Melissa joins the family, and Tom is thrilled!

44. Jacob is off to Tennessee for his mission, and you take your trip to Chile. You love the adventure, climbing a volcano, exploring waterfalls and emerald streams, collecting shells among ancient churches on a southern island. And who can forget the 25$-a-night cabins in Panama?

45. Now it’s time for your first cruise. French Polynesia is a paradise!

46. Life is a whirlwind again as you welcome Jacob back from his mission, go to India, see Jacob marry Elise, and go to Guam.

47. You discover one of your favorite places as you travel to Puerto Rico to take your first cruise of the Caribbean.

48. Guam again???!!    I love you because you are the best sport ever and a great shell collector too!

Remember that cool isolated beach we found at the bottom of a steep drive down a cliff?

49. ELISE IS PREGNANT!!!!!    You love the rainforest of Puerto Rico and have a great time on cruises and hiking trips.   We hiked that volcano like we were 30!    Gosh, I love you!

50. Whether I see you across the way during Sacrament Meeting, or with the little orange bird when I come home from a long day, or in the morning as you rush to catch me before I go, or in the temple across the aisle in your white robes, I feel happy and sometimes a little chocked up.

 You are my princess, my queen, my dear wife.

 I love you.

 Happy Birthday.

J-