If I could save time in a canning jar of tulips

During my last year of high school I met my husband.  I loved him instantly. 

Within a few months I changed all the big life decisions I had spent those teen years creating.  And truthfully though I was young and naive I didn’t care at all what anyone thought.  And I still don’t!  People were gentle and kind with their comments but I know many were kind of aghast at the situation known as Ken & KD.

Ken is crazy.  He is full speed and I have often thought it’s a good thing he was born when he was because nowadays they would say he was hyperactive.  When I look at what he has accomplished in his life I can only credit his zest and intensity for life.   The world needs more people like Ken.  He is the most selfless person I’ve ever met.  He saved me from myself, if that makes any sense.

His life isn’t about money or greed or who he knows.  It’s about faith and seeing beauty in the mundane.  It’s about his kids-big and small- and about how even the smallest things can make a person happy.   He is real.

This is how I like him best…after an afternoon nap, kind of scrub faced and hair askew. 

But I also like him like this…with a gaggle of kids about who love him as much as I do. 

Today is his birthday. 

It’s hard to buy him stuff, he likes stuff but it’s usually weird stuff we would never know he wanted.  It’s funny to me that he can be in uniform at a moments notice dealing with one issue or another but he is the kind of guy that looks ridiculous in the grocery store.  He pushes the cart aimlessly and will stop to look at something with interest. I remember once he bought a gigantic jar of tomato paste like he had great plans.  Maggie (above) and I usually do the shopping, when Ken comes with us we know it’s going to be…. fun(ny).

I remember early on in our relationship envisioning him “old”.  Time has passed so quickly, I just can’t believe it.  Sometimes I look at us together with our new wrinkles and varicose veins and it makes me laugh.  What is happening?!  We used to have cute pet names now he calls me lady and I call him fatty.  But the truth is I’m more love sick now for him than ever. 

And I can’t tell you why or how or what is or what isn’t.  But I can tell you faith and truth and love are part of each day.