Things I’ve Learned from Her.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my wife, with Eve our 7th.  Beauty.  Motherhood.  Caring.  Sacrifice.

Inspired by Jen’s “A beautiful woman is…” campaign for our now-12-year old, the Professor is hijacking Jen’s blog to post a sweet birthday message.  I want to tell her friends some of the things I have learned from her over the nearly 17 years we’ve been married.

1. I have learned that the process is just as important as the outcome.  I’m naturally outcome-oriented, and she’s more of a process person.  So, for example, it doesn’t matter that everyone gets to school on time if they leave with a bad attitude from Dad’s personification of Captain Von Trapp.
2. I have learned that loving families span religious and national boundaries.
3. I have learned that being unified with her makes me stronger.
4. I have learned how to love the child who needs it most.
5. I have learned how to influence my community for good.
6. I have learned to live in the moment, even if it means letting our kids swim in the lake with their clothes on.
7. I have learned to love being up at night with an alert baby, or even a sweet, needy sick child.
8. I have learned to love pets, even when they have babies that are impossible to give away, and then have babies AGAIN.
9. I have learned that you can love someone and still give them needed correction.
10. I have learned to wake instantly upon hearing the phrase "Are you sleeping?!" to repeat that last sentence during sleep-inducing (yet enlightening) bedtime conversations.
11. I have learned that sometimes people just need you to listen and not try to solve their problems.
12. I have learned to follow that inner voice when it says to stop and visit with someone, even when I’m in a rush.
13. I have learned to pull myself closer to her in moments when other forces try to pull us apart.
14. I have learned that a person can endure significant health challenges while also being an uplifting, edifying influence to those around her.
15. Finally, I have learned that loving someone enough to selflessly serve them is the key to happiness in marriage.

I love you Schatz!