Thirty

Today marks the start of the thirtieth trip my darling husband will make around the sun.  I feel so proud of him; how wonderful a man he is and all the ways he works and prays to be an even better man.  I know, I'm gushy, but gosh darnnit, I've been gifted with such an incredible gift in him that I can't help myself!

 

I remember the very first time I saw Grant.  We'd both been hired to work with a church for the summer as youth interns, overseeing the youth group, and got invited to go to the Spring youth retreat to kind of give us both a head start on meeting the kids- to be introduced to one another and get a feel for who we'd be working with.  The weeks leading up to that weekend retreat I was so nervous.  I had dream after dream about "the intern"- and he was usually mean and fat and smelly.  The afternoon that Grant was to arrive at the campsite where the retreat was taking place I paced nervously around from the lodge to my cabin, unsure about what I should expect.  And then a giant jeep rolled up- and then I saw him bounce out of it and begin walking to the lodge.  I hid out in the cabin to scope him out- not because I was boy crazy but because I'd been nervously praying about who the Lord had paired me up with to work and minister with for the summer!  "God, please just give me someone with whom I can get along well- so that YOUR message will be heard clearly by the kids we work with.  Just someone who I get along with, please!"

 

And as he passed by my cabin, unaware of me peeping on him, clad in new Nikes, camo-cargo shorts, and a bright, white visor (yes, a visor!), I breathed a sigh of relief.  He didn't appear to be stinky, he was smiling a bright smile and he just looked- happy! Joyful, even!  I quickly picked up my phone which had half of a bar of battery left and dialed the number that tiny bit of juice had been preserved for: my mom.

 

"Mom, he's here.  I haven't talked to him yet, but he looks normal enough and he looks really happy!  I'll tell you more later." 

 

The first time I saw Grant, since he wasn't toting a guitar and he didn't have facial piercings and he didn't appear to be super-angsty, I didn't put much stock in him as a love-interest.  You know, because when I was 19 I was a genius-especially in matters of love.  Ask anyone. (Ha ha ha! Thinking back to that version of me really annoys me.)  He had just had his 22nd birthday.

 

We quickly became friends and made excuses for the amount of time we spent on the phone that Spring leading up to that Summer.  I fought hard against falling for Grant- it didn't make sense to me that I should be SO blessed and so happy and so without drama in a relationship.  I mean, he didn't blow up my cell phone and cry and write emotionally wrought poems when he was away from me-and he also happened to love Jesus (a LOT) and was kind and compassionate and made me laugh...all of the time.  I was perplexed about having fallen for someone who was so much of all that I'd never known I'd wanted and needed.  I thought back to my prayer, "please just allow me to work with someone I'll get along with."  In faith, I'd prayed for the bare minimum and the Lord had delivered so, so much more.

 

Now, today on Grant's 30th birthday, I simply marvel at the God who works for the good of those who love Him- my Father who urged me to trust Him, to believe that He knew better than I what kind of man would serve as the best kind of best friend for me- the best companion and partner.  This God asked me to trust Him when His plan was for me to marry at an age about 10 years younger than I would have believed I'd have gotten married- because He wanted me to get to grow up with my gorgeous boy.  Oh and I marvel at what my God has done in that gorgeous boy with the eyes that crinkle when he smiles.  He's made him a man.  A real, strong, God-fearing, Christ-following man- who I get to wake up to every day and go home to every night. 

 

I could have never imagined that the 22 year old I spied from behind the hand-sewn cabin curtains I peeped from that day would be the same 30 year old man I get to serve the Lord with, raise children with, laugh with, snuggle with- never could have dreamed it.

 

I love you, Boo.  Happy Birthday.