Happy Birthday, Phil!

Today is my sweet husband's birthday. God has blessed our family so richly through Phil. We are going to have a great time celebrating his big day. In his honor, here is a short list of the ways that Phil is special. They are listed in no particular order. As I was writing them, I realized that this list could go on and on and on! (I honestly tried to stop with ten things, but just couldn't stop there!).

30. He doesn't make me feel silly for taking so many pictures. He just makes sure he backs up all of our pictures on CDs to prevent future disappointment.

29. He doesn't complain when I ask him how to pull up my voice mail messages on my cell phone. Even though he has explained it dozens of times.

28. He handles our finances. What a blessing!

27. He loves organization. His shirts are hung in a particular order and his CDs are alphabetized! I tease him mercilessly, but I secretly appreciate his need for order. I like things organized (but I'm a bit more flexible than he is!).

26. He absolutely loves maps. He hopes to visit every single state someday.

25. He listens to me when I just need to talk to an adult - even when he's been listening to people at work all day long.

24. He is willing to drive 19 hours (with three children in the car) to visit my sister in Denver. And he enjoys every minute of it!

23. He budgets money every month for my scrapbooking hobby.

22. He buys me Cherry Coke. =)

21. He knows more about the cheese and butter making process than anyone else I know. (And he is patient enough to try to explain it!).

20. He is brave enough to teach 7th grade Sunday school. Enough said!

19. He loves my family and truly enjoys being with them. (And they love him too!)

18. He brings me flowers, just because.

17. He knows the lyrics to most all of the Disney songs and isn't afraid to sing them!

16. He values what I do here at home - even when the beds don't get made and dinner isn't ready when he gets home. He believes that the time I spend with the kids is valuable.

15. He routinely fills up the van with gas, even though I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself. He says he just likes taking care of me.

14. He is extremely patient with my indecisiveness - even though I know it drives him crazy!
13. He is a die-hard Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings fan. It doesn't matter how bad their season could be. We rarely watch any games on TV (except for the play-offs), but he already has Beth trained to check the scores on the computer.

12. He is a Civil War fanatic. If there is a book about the Civil War, he wants it sitting on his shelf (even if he doesn't have time to read it!).

11. He loves to read and is always sharing information about his latest "book-on-tape." I learn a lot from him.
10. He loves to play games - especially cards. Quiddler is our current favorite. (Now if only he wasn't quite so competitive!).
9. He is more than willing to help in the kitchen.
8. He has always given our kids their baths (and clipped their nails).
7. He actually enjoys doing laundry and ironing. (Yes, he's weird!)
6. He loves to be silly and make up original songs for our kids - which drives Elizabeth absolutely crazy!
5. He works extremely hard to provide for our family - and he never complains.
4. He makes the yummiest ice cream ever - and grills amazing steaks! Oh, and we can't forget his apple pies!
3. He is a loving and patient daddy to our children.
2. He sincerely loves God and strives to serve Him.
1. He loves me and shows me his love in so many different ways. I thank God every single day for bringing Phil all the way from Michigan - for me. I am so blessed.