In his next 40 Years…

In John’s next 40 years may he be so blessed to experience as many wonderful things as his life has had thus far.

To celebrate his BIG DAY, I thought that I would just remind this amazing man, just how blessed he is!

Forty amazing things, to celebrate his forty years!

• On February 5, 1970, he was brought into this world by an amazing mother who was actually under hypnosis for the delivery. (She was very ahead of her time!)
• As a child, John would try anything.  I imagine him as this versatile kid who could climb anything, just like our children can now.  Nothing was out of reach for him.
• John was blessed with one sister, who, probably pushed him to do better more than he will ever admit.
• John had parents who were raised in two different worlds, but created a beautiful and safe one for him.
• He had only one family friend who his parents would trust to watch he and his sister, once a year, as they went Christmas shopping.
• He was taken on wonderful family vacations, because his parents believed in working very hard and playing very hard as well.
• His parents taught him the value of work.  This trait is immeasurable even to this day.
• As a youth, John was able to have the opportunity to train with the top swimmers in the world.  He had his sights set on the 1988 Olympics.
• His loving parents supported him in everything that he did.
• His father would drive him 25 minutes, every morning, at 6am to swim practice, only to take him back later after his current sports practice.
• They also had the chance to travel all over the country for competitions.
• He also liked to race Olympian hopefuls down the Colorado slopes as a teenager.
• He did well in school without even trying, imagine Anne and Paul if he really tried.
• John had close friends that, even as adults, would love to know where he is and how he is doing.
• John appreciates traditions.  I love this!  His mother is an amazing example of this, and John loves all the little traditional things that his mother instilled in him.  May I be so wonderful to continue in her steps.
• John had his own room as a child.  This may seem simple, but coming from a family of seven children, I would have LOVED that some days.
• John started a car on fire, while he was upside down inside it fixing something!
• John is a meat and potatoes guy.  For Valentines, we had, meat and potatoes!  So romantic!
• In college, John had the opportunity to play football and he loved it!
• He attended a school where it seemed that every returned missionary KNEW he was the ONE!  I think he was an answer to many R.M.’s prayers concerning WHO they should share their beliefs with.  What a blessing for me!
• He was also raised to believe what you felt to be true, which eventually led him to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• After college John had reconstructive surgery on his knee, only to ROCK at an NFL combine just months later.
• His knee wasn’t meant to live an NFL packed schedule, which led him right to a job in my neighborhood.
• John loves biscuits and gravy, which will always be a part of how our story together started.
• I knew the first time we ever talked at length that he was the one for me.
• The day of our wedding, our cake fell all over the floor, our groomsmen bridesmaids were ticketed for parking in the wrong spots, and the church caught on fire after our reception!  Great day!
• John wiped a tear from my face as we knelt across an altar, in a holy temple, and covenanted to forever together.
• On our honeymoon, our luggage was lost, our flight re-routed and was the best time of our lives.
• The first day we fell asleep on the beach, with spectacular sunburns to prove it.
• The day we moved into our first home, I realized that our family had begun.  Not because of the purchase of the home, but because I couldn’t keep my eyes open long enough to unpack a box.
• That Monday, I called John and ask how “dad’s” day was going.  The excitement in his voice will NEVER be erased from my memory.
• The look on his face as he held A.J. for the first time will hold that same permanence in my mind.
• As he looked with concern as Madie’s tiny blue body was looked at by hospital staff, and the smile that replaced it as she had an Apgar of 10 two minutes later was one of relief from a loving father.
• Easton was shot out of a cannon right from birth, and John has been the perfect dad to keep up with him ever since.
• It was John’s turn to name our little Brooke Elizabeth, and how perfect that name has been for her, a gift from her favorite person in the whole world.
• John is loved by Ellie in every way.  She looks for him first thing each morning, and is sad on the days when she has slept later than expected and missed him.
• John was blessed to hold our little Gabrielle and give her a name and a blessing.  The experience that he had is proof that there is life after death, and he intends on seeing Gabby there.
• I was physically and emotionally drained at the birth of Annie, but John was there to see her arrive.  His eyes lit up and gave me the needed adrenaline boost to witness such a sweet miracle.
• John is a believer.  If he wasn’t, he would not have chosen to have this large family, believe in the truth of the gospel and teach that truth everyday to our children.
• He is loved by youth.  He isn’t the conventional leader, but they love him because they want to be like him and they know he loves them!

I love this man!  He is the one for me!  May your next 40 years be filled with even more blessings and opportunities to bless the lives’ of those around you.  Thank you for who you are and who you are becoming!  I love you John!

~Laura