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| Johnsons, Kankelfritzes, Quans & Myers |
I cannot believe I am married to a 50-year-old man. First of all, he doesn't look a day over 30. In fact, he looks the same as he did when we first started dating. Except for a few gray hairs that have snuck in over the years (most likely due to being married to a crazy woman), his waistline is actually SMALLER than it was the day we got married and people still mistake him for a college kid sometimes (depending on what he's wearing). Throughout our 16 years of marriage, his looks have stayed the same...it's his heart that his grown...
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| Mike Lin & Dave - Air Guitar @ the party |
In spite of his timeless look, I am grateful for a man who has weathered 50 years with grace, humility, a special maturity and a deep, deep kindness. And, I would venture to say that anyone else who has met him would say the same thing. He is wise. He is kind. He is calm. He is giving. He is loving. As we celebrated his half century of life last weekend, I was struck by something our dear friend Alan Stewart said - he said, "It really is amazing to see the layers of friendships and relationships Dave has." And, that, I know, is because of who Dave is - how his countenance puts people at ease, how his easy-going way of talking to people opens doors and hearts and suddenly folks are telling him their whole life story in but a few minutes, how the depth of his convictions and his faith get people to look at things through a different lens.
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| Dave, Al Lee & Randy Wong |
We had friends and family who flew in from far away places to celebrate Dave's life and it was wonderful. We celebrated who he is and we expressed our love for him and our gratefulness for his presence in our lives. As we watched a video that took us from his childhood to today, I was struck by all the ways he is connected to people. I was struck by how he and our son, Nate, are tied at the hip - closer than close. He is the most amazing father and I am blown away by the depth of his love for his child and the way he fathers Nate, loves Nate, guides Nate and gives Nate the security and grounding that he needs. I was struck by all the years of life I've shared with this man and the ways he's given to me - his constant care, his encouragement of my life and career and my calling, the fact that we don't have "roles" in our family - that my opinions and my passions are heard and respected - that it is his desire to see me happy and whole and healthy. Whether it's cooking dinner because he got home first (or I'm laying on the couch, exhausted), or he's coaching Little League or he's running to the drycleaners because I need my Power Suit... he doesn't complain (usually :)) - he just serves. I've never known any husband who has served their wives the way that Dave serves me. And, all you "manly men" out there can call that what you want - but I am telling you - it's what every woman wishes and hopes for and oft times doesn't get. It's what makes him stand out against all the other husbands out there (and many of my girlfriends would agree on this).
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| Dave and his evill "twin brother - Gi-ard" |
Mind you, he isn't perfect. One should not ask Dave to fix a broken pipe or repair a light fixture. One should not ask him to balance their checkbook (that is why we have a family bookkeeper, I kid you not). One should not expect him to be on-time (believe me, I have tried everything). One should not expect him to stay awake during a sermon, no matter how good the sermon is. But - these are not horribly important things at the end of the day. :) No one is perfect... most especially not the woman writing this blog.
The party was a blast and we enjoyed seeing all of our "layers" of friends - old friends, new friends, friends from college, friends from church, friends from work, friends from all over the place. We had a great time at St. Arnold's - drinking the brew, reminiscing, watching our friend Johnny Myers go all out in the caricature department... It was so much fun! It was a special tribute and a special time...
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| Dave & Rach with Bill & Donna Kallmeyer |
So... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVE! Nate and I are grateful for who you are and how you love us! And, many, many friends celebrate this is as well!!! To watch the video from Dave's celebration, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-hcyUmxQQQ
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