Ode to My Man!

 

Shane just recently celebrated his 33rd birthday.  He's probably cringing.. he doesn't like to remember how old he is.  One year he thought he was turing 27 when he was really turning 28! Sorry babe! But 33 is still young. This is a picture of him a couple weeks ago. His sis said she'd pay for his game if he'd wear these ugly brown socks while they were bowling... ha ha... that's my man!

Here's just a few things I love about Shane:

1) He's the best dad ever.  I knew he'd be a good dad when I saw him with my down syndrome cousin.  When we were dating, we drove out to California to my cousin's missionary farewell.  We walked in the church a little late, and I had to use the bathroom. When I came out, he was helping my little down syndrome cousin reach the water fountain and get a drink.  He didn't even know that he was my cousin.  It melted my heart.  And he has proven to be a wonderful dad to Jada.  Recently he caught an earlier flight home from a business trip, just so he could come watch her triathlon! He has picked up a new hobby (flying model airplanes) and always offers to take Jada with him when he goes to spend some time with her.  She loves being with her daddy.  And I'm so excited that pretty soon we'll be the proud parents of two adorable little girls!

2) He calls me every day.  I don't think there's been a single day where he hasn't called me from work at least once, just to say hello and that he loves me.  He knows I love to hear that!

3) He's the best at surprises, and I love it!  Once I was in Utah visiting family, and I wasn't expecting him to come out, but he surprised me by flying out for a weekend and took me to a Peter Breinholt concert. It was the best!  Once he called into a radio station to answer, "What have you done to simplify your life." His answer was, "I got married to a wonderful woman, and has made my life simpler and better in so many ways." (Awwwww)  He won front row tickets to a Mary Chapin Carpenter concert.  And lately he's been surprising me every now and then by showing up to my prenatal appointments, just to spend a little bit of time with me, hold my hand, and hear the baby's heart beat.  He really is the best.

4) He has a sense of adventure. I love to do crazy things, and he's right there with me.  When we were dating I thought that this guy was the coolest! He took me backpacking for 5 days at Capital Reef, white water rafting on the Snake River in Idaho, roller-blading in Santa Monica, Hiking in Zions National Park, and we often drove his motorcycle up Provo Canyon for hikes and picnics.  We still love to do crazy things like scuba diving, kayaking, rock climbing, and wake boarding.  But aside from the adventure sports, he is just a blast to be around and never a dull moment around here!

5) He's incredibly helpful.  I don't think there is a day that goes past where he doesn't ask, "Is there anything I can do for you or anything I can pick up for you at the store?" He also just helps when I don't ask for help.  If I'm folding laundry, he'll jump in and start folding laundry with me not only to help, but also to be near me and spend some extra time with me.  

6) He's a great dancer and loves to dance.  And I know I'm lucky!  We have a blast doing that together, and I know it's something we can do together till we're old and gray. We met dancing at a club in Pleasant Grove, and I was super impressed at how good he was... he didn't seem to be there just to pick up chicks like everyone else.  He enjoys it and is a blast to dance with! I didn't have much experience partner dancing, and he's patiently taught me how to two-step, swing, west-coast swing, cha-cha... and a lot of others. 

7) He loves music. He's not very musical, but he loves music very much, and he loves to sing in the ward choir (really!). He always changes what he listens to, but he has great taste in music (and I'm thankful he puts up with some of my 50's favorites :)

8) He's a great provider. He works very hard and I'm so happy for him that he has a job that he loves very much.  I really truly appreciate everything that he does for us, and the necessities and comforts that his hard work provides. He often brings his gadgets, wires, and things, home with him to try new things with ours house.  I try to hide the wires the best that I can :) but truly, deep down I really do love all the wires! :)

9) He loves to serve and help others.  I have such a strong testimony of service and I'm so happy that he shares that.  Once I put together a huge yard sale to help raise some money for someone who was about to lose their home.  And he was right along there to help me with everything.  He has a big heart and its one of the things I love most about him.  

10) I think the thing I love about him most, is that he inspires me and motivates me to be a better person every day.  There are a million things I love about him and it just makes me want to be the kind of person that he adores right back. 

I love you so much babe! Hope you had a wonderful 33!