My birthday boy

Today is a day that I have always treated like a holiday (hence he gets his very own blog post).

See, you have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, 4th of July and August 24th.

August 24, 1988 to be exact.

This was the glorious day that William Lawrence Olson joined the world.

Our ‘not so little’, 10 pound bundle of pure preciousness.

Where do I even begin?!

You have impacted my life in ways that no one else ever could. When I first met you, I was going through one of the lowest points of my life. On the outside I looked like a happy, bubbly, outgoing girl – the girl with lots of friends and fun weekend plans. However, on the inside… I was far from that girl. Inside, I was lost, broken and despite all the loving people around me, I was lonely. A few years went by but my prayers remained the same. I prayed for God to send me someone special. Someone to help me, be there for me and love me in ways that my friends [while still amazing] could not.

I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Me and my best friends had just graduated from high school and went to the beach to celebrate. Most days and nights were spent consuming as much alcohol as we could get our underage hands on, but there was one particular morning that I will never forget for as long as I live…

I was sitting outside with my feet in the pool, watching the waves come in and go back out. It was early so everyone in the house was still fast asleep from drinking the night before. I figured it would be a couple hours before I saw any form of human life, so I decided to take advantage of the morning’s peacefulness, knowing it wouldn’t last long. Then you walked out… I knew who you were, but we had never met or spoken to each other before. You came and sat beside me, which quite frankly made me a little anxious. I forget what our first conversation was about, but I do remember how comfortable and effortless it felt. You made me laugh and despite being practically strangers, it was like I had known you for years.

Since that day, you have never left me. After all these years, each morning the sun comes up, you continue to choose me, care for me, pursue me and love me like the very first day. It still amazes me as to why out of all the girls you chose me, but I am so thankful and grateful that I get to share this life with you. You are an amazing husband, son, brother, uncle and friend to everyone you come in contact with. I can only imagine how GREAT of a dad you will make someday… Everyone always has something they want to change about themselves, but I wouldn’t change one thing about you.

In this new year of life, I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. Enough rain to appreciate the sun. Enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. Enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. Enough gain to satisfy your wanting. Enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. Enough hellos to get you through the goodbyes. And enough love to realize how deserving you are of it.

This perfectly, imperfect journey we’re on is SO beautiful to me. It represents all the love, care, hard work and effort we have poured into this relationship and I am proud to call it OURS! Wherever it takes us next, it feels good to know you’ll be right there beside me.

HAPPIEST of birthdays to the sweetest, most genuine, selfless soul I have ever known. Watching you grow into this amazing man has truly been a joy and a privilege for me. I look forward to every day, every week, every month, every year and every birthday that we get to celebrate together.

I love you so much (more than the written word could ever begin to express)!

Out of all of our travels, you have and will always be my greatest adventure.

XOXO