How he would stand on the side of the road outside his house, with a Bible in his hand, and "preach" to the cars going by. How he would carry his tape recorder around recording himself singing and telling jokes and then play them back, annoyingly, for his entire family - over and over AND over.
There are stories of catching the back yard on fire, while attempting to help his dad kill fire ants. Stories of jumping off the roof with an umbrella like Mary Poppins, to see if it would slow down his fall. (He says it worked!) Stories of breaking the stained glass windows in his dad's church with a rock (on accident) and of sneaking off to downtown St. Augustine on his bike while his parents were at work, and being hit by a red tourist train! (Obviously he wasn't seriously injured).
I could go on and on - but I'm sure if you asked him, and got him started, he could tell you so many more. I hear these stories and I laugh, but I also see how the Lord continues to use all that passion, enthusiasm and creativity in his life and the lives of those he ministers to today.
One thing that many do not know about my sweet husband is that he was born with a cleft pallet and had to have surgery when he was a baby. Fortunately, it didn't extend to his upper lip, like most do, but did give him a hole in the roof of his mouth and caused a speech impediment which put him through years of speech therapy. By the time he was nine, he was struggling in school, was tested and the teachers told his parents that they should find a trade school for him because he may not finish High School and he definitely wouldn't make it to college.
When he was 16 and at Youth Camp, he heard God's call on his life to ministry. He came home, went back to school and asked the principal if he could have a room each morning before school for a Bible Study. When I first met him, 28 years ago, he was sitting at a table, teaching through the book of John to his peers. He has been leading ever since. He finished High School, he not only finished four years of college, but three years of seminary to earn his Master's Degree. He came back to the Jacksonville area, got his first full time ministry position and pursued me until I finally gave in.
Oh how thankful I am for this man. I know that he was created just for me. God creates all of us for a purpose and it's fun to look back over his life and see how everything has prepared him for where he is now. He loves the Lord, loves his family and he loves the church. He is kind and sensitive to others and he desires to lead them to a closer walk with Christ. He is spontaneous, creative and did I mention enthusiastic and passionate? He is human, he struggles with things like all of us, but he doesn't hide that. He is real, he is honest and he is a man of great integrity.
I simply could not imagine my life without him!
I admired Russell's qualities long before we were ever serious. I even told him one night on the phone, in an effort to encourage him, that he was going to make someone a wonderful husband someday. And I really believed that! I just had no idea it would be me! Turns out that I'm the lucky one that got this man and all of his wonderful qualities.
I can't even begin to tell you what I like most about him. He is everything I ever prayed for and more. Even before he was born God knew he was my husband. God has great plans.
Russell - today I celebrate you!
- I am so thankful that your parents were surprised by your presence because God had to add one more to their family.
- I'm thankful that you moved to Orange Park and had the passion to start a Bible Study in our High School where you and I would meet.
- I'm thankful for the 10 years of solid friendship we shared before we ever began dating.
- I'm thankful that I am that woman that benefits from all of your wonderful qualities.
- I'm thankful for your passion, your sense of humor, your serious side, your sensitivity, your complexity, your easiness.
- I'm thankful for you spontaneity, your sense of adventure and your desire to sit at home and do nothing.
- I'm thankful for your leadership, for your quirks, for the way we can finish each others thoughts.
- I'm thankful for the way you love people, for your compassion and your mercy.
- I'm thankful for your doubts and your fears because I know you are real.
- I'm thankful that you are always three steps ahead of me and are ever so patient while the Lord works in my life to get us back on the same page.
- I'm thankful for the two beautiful children you have given me and for the way that you love and lead them.
- I'm thankful that you love our Lord more than you do me because then you love me even better.
- I'm thankful for your prayers, your faithfulness and your trustworthiness.
- I'm thankful for your restlessness and your desire to just be.
- I'm thankful for your tenderness, your listening ear and your desire to do whatever it takes to provide for us.
You have continued to use your gifts and talents that the Lord has given you for His glory. Your desire to serve and obey our Lord is contagious. You are my love, my husband and my best friend. Apart from salvation - you are my greatest gift! I love you more than you know. Here's to celebrating many more years of "you".......
Happy Birthday, my love! ~ Me
