Yesterday was this guy’s birthday.
You might know him as the King of Free. To me, he’s B or maybe BLowe or Brian.
To my girls, he’s the daddy who hung the moon and the stars and also the one who WILL make you break in an interrogation session (lawyer kid problems).
He’s silly and fun. He’s structured and spontaneous at the same time (not an easy thing to do). He’s wise and hilarious and kind and above all else very interesting. People seek his opinion. Often. Sometimes in the middle of dinner or on Main Street in Disney World via phone (and I have never been frustrated once . . . rrrriiiggght). Being a sagacious counselor, he always listens first (how DOES he do that?!) and then presents countless options that never occurred to me. He knows how to pour into the lives of others without drowning in their sorrows. He goes above and beyond when asked to volunteer, preparing for hours and praying through details.
He can karaoke like a beast – especially to 90s hip hop. There’s still a bowling alley in Danville, KY where he’s a semi-celebrity for his once a year Digital Underground performances. He reads books faster than the Micro Machines Man talks, filling his soul and mind with the very best things in life. He leads without squelching. He’s my biggest fan and the confidant who helps me put on the brakes before I do something I will regret.
He’s challenged me:
to Trivial Pursuit face offs.
to question why I’m doing what I’m doing.
to look beyond my present circumstances.
to pay off all of our debt.
to love others deeply.
to write a book.
For 16 years, we’ve been celebrating his birthday every May 18. I’d like to say every day in between was peachy keen, but we’d both know that I was lying. Yet, we’ve kissed more than we’ve fought. We’ve been on the same team more times than competing rivals. In the end, it has been 16 years of awesome, but as a good friend recently stated of her own 16 year marriage, there have been awesome highs, dark lows, and plenty of days filled with “meh” too.
Don’t ever fool yourself into thinking someone else has a perfect marriage. There are no perfect people. There are no perfect marriages. The end. The day we begin believing someone else has it “better off” than we do is the day the plan God intended for us begins to crack under our own choices. I believe there’s an ancient story about a woman believing she could have it better off if she could have just oooonnnneee taste of a forbidden fruit. Things went south after she actually obtained it.
I know he truly understands me and loves me deeply. Even when he’s driven me up the wall or said something that stings, I don’t doubt that love.
I am wildly proud of the man he is and increasingly awed at how God knitted our souls together in the middle of a JC Penney in the summer of 1998 (an awesome, yet untold story). After all, no one else would be able to withstand either one of our crazy.
Happy birthday, Brian. You are my favorite. I am so thankful. I love you.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
