Happy Birthday Todd!

I don't think people really believe when I tell them that Todd used to wear 'acid wash' jeans. I referred to them in my blogs about Todd and I (http://blogs.frontlinedc.com/2008/05/todd-and-i-part-3-julie-phillips.html). Thought I would share proof in this picture.

My husband turns 40 today. He is such a young 40...in so many ways. It seems surreal to think that my husband is 40. That means I am close to that same age!?!? We used to look at people who turned 40 as 'over the hill'. What were we thinking? There is so much life still to live...

I look back on our time together and I feel so fortunate to have been part of Todd's last 15 years. God has been so gracious. Ten years ago on August 26th- Parker was a few days over 1 month old and Todd was turning 30. Fourteen years ago on August 26th- Todd asked me to marry him. He said it was what he wanted for his birthday. Wow- time has flown...

I wanted to celebrate Todd- and go back a few years. This week has been one of remembrance: from Todd's Frontline Sermon, to his Surprise Birthday Party, through finding old pictures and figuring out how to work my scanner. I found the poem I wrote for Todd in August of 1995- close to when he asked my father for my hand in marriage:

In my love's arms, I find my heart.
When they wrap around me I know all is right and I am safe.
There is strength cloaked with the promise of gentleness.
When he uses them to teach, his sincerity is imprinted on my mind through the use of his hands.
He makes points regarding God's love and when the time comes for those same arms and hands to be wrapped around me~ He makes the same point about God's love.
It's fullness and peacefullness are felt through my love's touch.

There is nothing like it~ for in my love's arms. I find my heart.

Okay, so I will never compete with the likes of John Donne or Emily Dickinson- but they were, and are, my words for my husband. I am so, so blessed.

I pray that Todd will wake up each morning asking himself, "What can I do for you today, God?" That is a man a woman celebrates.

And that the next forty years of his life are even more amazing...I will try to stay up with him!