Mr. Hale turns 30

Mr. Hale is 30, finally. I was starting to get lonely. My honey turned 30 on April 23rd. As one of his gifts I made a book for him on shutterfly.com (I love this site), anyway the book is titled "Reasons why I love you." I have pictures of Andy throughout the book and give numerous reasons of why I do love my husband. I was going to share some of those reasons on here but I never could quite write the blog. I don't know why but I was having trouble writing it in a form that wasn't too mushy (see I can be cheesy with just him but knowing others would be reading it was troubling me). Just listing the reasons on here why I love him was not quite conveying the feelings I want to get across. So I wrote, erased, wrote, erased and then last friday happened. I now know why I was not suppose to write this blog before friday. Late friday afternoon we received a package in the mail. It was my mother's day gift. Andy got the package before I saw it (even though I was at home) and took it to the back to open it. When he emerged he asked me if I wanted it then. Well of course! I actually said "its up to you." I could tell he was bursting to give it to me and so he did. Oh before I forget I asked for my kitchen to be painted as my mother's day gift. To my utter surprise he had made me a book on shutterfly. I knew I was gonna need some tissues. The front of the book is a picture of a huge oak tree in my parents backyard. There is a small white picket fence sitting at the edge of the tree and a painted wooden sunflower the reads "Welcome The Campbells." The book is a tribute to me but also to my dad. I could not even see the pages by the end, I was crying so hard. I was crying b/c obviously I miss my dad but I was crying of the fact that my husband took the time to put this book together. The pictures are beautiful. Theres one page with a note my mom wrote to my dad on the back of their wedding program. I could not believe the effort Andy had put into this, not that he doesn't do those kinds of things but that he knew what I needed, I needed that book. I wish I could post the book. I wish I could explain exactly how my husband makes me feel knowing he cares that I hurt and that he gave me this book I will cherish forever, not some dumb old painted kitchen. So the weekend continued and we celebrated Andy's birthday w/ family at a country chompin & stompin eatery. I have to say I really enjoyed myself. They even played Mary had a Little Lamb for Kai to dance to and dance he did. He got on the dance floor, swung his arms, laughed, and clapped. A guy asked me at one point "why is he laughing, why is he so happy?" I responded "he just is, he's like that 90% of the time." That makes me smile. I prayed that I would have a happy child and so far God has honored that prayer. Ok so back to the rest of the weekend (can you tell I'm a proud mama :). Sunday on our way home from church I was reading aloud an article from the HomeLife magazine. It was about a little boy who had a tumor on his brain and was going to need surgery. I couldn't finish the article. I was crying as I read it. I  put the magazine down and looked over and saw Andy crying. This brings me to WHY I LOVE MY HUSBAND and one of  the reason I'm willing to share with the public. My husband crys. He's not a sissy cryer (like me) but he is willing to cry and in front of me. I don't know of many who could read that article and not cry but I do know of many who would hide their tears. We do not. Andy has never once made me feel stupid for crying over anything. I love knowing my husband has a tender side. He IS man enough to show it. Thank you Andy for being the man who can show your emotions, who is willing to let me show mine and is still willing to stick by and for taking time to make me a gift that you know I will run back into my burning house to save. I love you for so many more reason (i.e. good times are abound with you around, you can laugh at yourself and gosh you're just so good looking). Happy 30th Birthday Mr. Hale
p.s. antique white will look great in my kitchen :)