Mike

In honor of our year anniversary I wanted to write about my husband, Mike.  He claims that he does not get enough shout outs on my blog so today is just about him.

1. His persistence, determination, and beast mode

I met Mike at work during a meeting on January 16th.  I had just moved to day shift as a supervisor a few weeks early and I was still trying to get my grove. I got a new office, started attending a million meeting and learning new responsibilities.  So Mike--he was in one of those meetings.  Eventually he started coming to my noon meeting as well but I think that was only so we could hang out for a few short minutes during our day.  

I was working on a relationship (or so I thought) and I had no interest in Mike in any capacity besides being my best friend at work.  He was 25 with no kids.  We lived to completely different lifestyles, and as I mentioned…I was in a relationship.  

Over the next few months Mike continued to ask me to hang out outside of work.  I continued to back out of plans and even wrote some late night texts clarifying our friendship status.  Looking back now I am not 100% sure of what made me change my mind and hang out with Mike for his birthday.  I can't think of one single thing that made me close the door on one thing and open it on the other.  Even though I planned on going out that Friday night I still had NO INTENTION of dating this man.  None.  My heart was still in the past.  If I am being honest, I think that I was just running away as fast as I could from a broken and shattered heart.  And holy moly Mike did not let me get around him.

We hung out every almost every day since that Friday night.  We were already such good friends and things worked.  They were easy and fun.  We talked and talked and talked.  We enjoyed life and enjoyed each other.  We joke now that since I said, "no" and that, "it's not possible" so many times I sparked some type of challenge in him.  Regardless, here we are…almost not even two years later expecting a baby.  It has been a wild, wonderful ride.  Grateful that he didn't give up on me.  That he just kept on being his normal, silly self and I couldn't help but fall in love.  

2. Our adventures
We both love to travel.  I am grateful for our many adventures together and I can't wait for the countless more experiences that we will have with just the two of us and as a family.  When we were planning our wedding we traveled around the world in our heads.  Once Vegas came up we never really changed our minds.  It was a perfect week.  We ate the best food, saw amazing shows, and stayed in huge rooms.  This past year our travel list was changed up a bit by tragedy.  We canceled Lake Tahoe and never took a fall trip to Florida.  We still had a blast in Greece and Italy though I only enjoyed a few sips of wine while staying in Tuscany since Jack was growing in my belly.  This coming year we don't have much planned yet but knowing us, that will quickly change.

3. He is a family man
Mike's commitment and love for the boys and our immediate family makes me fall in love with him over and over every morning.  I can't wait to have Jack here with us to watch as Mike changes again into the role of father for a sweet, little baby.  I can't imagine how our hearts can be anymore full than they already are.  Cameron and Owen love Mike and when he is gone for the night or at a rare late meeting for dinner he is greatly missed.

Not only do I love Mike, but I love the family that he came with.  I told myself that I would never, every get into a relationship and deal with a crazy, in-law family.  My short life is just not worth the added drama. I still feel that way and though it might be seen as selfish at times I just have boundaries for my soul.  ….anyways….there are no issues here.  They all support us, love the boys, and have welcomed me with open arms.  So grateful to have them in our lives.

4. His support

Mike is my never ending encourager.  This is one of the things that made me fall in love with him.  He listens to my dreams and helps me to accomplish them.  

After my moms heart breaking cancer diagnosis and then two weeks later Erin's accident, his support turned from dream making to helping me stand up.  I can't imagine how challenging this year has been for him.  It has made our little family of four closer and the two of us closer.  A year like this reminds you in a harsh way that life is fleeting.  I have slowed down, enjoyed more cuddles and not made so many game plans for the future.  He has silently and strongly helped hold my hand and made sure to carry me to the next day if I can't seem to find my way.  Grateful for his silent strength, full heart and never ending support.

5.  Our future

We had whirlwind love story in the beginning.  We started dating in March, in August we were engaged and we married in December.  I would be lying to say I was not nervous.  I had been married and divorced and the previous year my relationship took me over an edge.  I questioned if I was moving too quickly or if I was still just trying to forget the heartbreak in my past.  I don't know when I stopped being nervous about the speed and realized that this was right.  That this was how our story was meant to be.  I have never questioned the speed of our story since.  I feel truly honored and blessed to be Mike's wife.  I feel that my heart is safe and that we will conquer this life together.  I am excited to see where the next year takes us.   

 Our first anniversary dinner at Brugge Brasserie last night.