Five years ago today I married my best friend.
Yes, that’s crazy cliché. But for a geeky guy like me – who doesn’t have friends in spades – friends are rare gems. And Jessica is the rarest and most beautiful. From convincing me to ask her out even though she is way out of my league, to giving her best mind to a grumpy and exhausted man after putting up with a one- and three-year old all day, she’s a great friend. She was the first friend who I didn’t think would leave if I screwed up. She was the first friend who thought I was plenty cool and interesting, and wasn’t just on their way to something better.
I don’t have the best memory, I can’t remember much from elementary, middle or high school – only an occasional high or low. Most of my college memories are drowned in laziness and sadness. But then there’s this mark in my mind. That mark is where things changed, and I started remembering vividly. That mark is Jessica. I can remember the sweaty palms when I asked her if it was ok to ask her out. I can remember the first kiss, telling her goodbye on the steps to her parent’s house. I can remember kneeling in the red clay and asking her to marry me. I can remember Rabun and Elle being born. From the moment she stepped into my life things changed. All my most vivid memories are with her, and I wouldn’t trade those memories for all the others.
Without her, I’d be just a geek. With her, I’m the geek with a hot wife who has somehow managed to figure out talking to people. Without her, I’d be hesitant and doubtful. With her I’m confident and resolute. Without her, I’d still be a lazy and depressed slacker. With her, I’m driven, determined, and I smile. She makes me better, makes me what I am.
I love that she gets mad that we won’t share a mansion in Heaven and promises to take that one up with Jesus. I love that I can read her like a book, but it’s a book I don’t know all the details of. I love that she cares with me, even about things that don’t matter. I love that she works hard alongside me and is not afraid of dirty hands. I love that she describes her old job as “flirting with old men” even though most of the farmers thought of her like a granddaughter. I love the way she loves and cares for our girls – stern, passionate, forgiving, embracing love. I love that she is the wife of my youth, and she keeps me young. I love that she’s opinionated, and yet never wants to embarrass me. I love her so completely, that I couldn’t imagine it before I met her.
She knew it long before I did, but she is definitely the one. She is the one I will grow old with. The one that brings out the best in me. The one that makes me want to be better than I am. The one who I want my girls to be like. The one I hate disappointing. The one I love to cheer. She is the one friend for me.
I don’t know why Jess loves the fair so much, but she does. And that’s great with me. As many of my idiosyncrasies as she puts up with, I can put up with a wife who’s fanatical about one week a year.
We’re lucky enough to live very close to the Georgia National Fair, so we can go a lot. The fair was in town for 11 days; Jessica was there for 10 of them and I was present for for 9 of them.
Luckily our kids love the fair, too. And we get to spend a lot of time with family and friends. Here are some highlights from this year’s fair.
Rabun got to hold an alligator.
Elle enjoyed all the sights sounds and people watching.
We met Rosie the dairy cow, who Rabun insists that we’ll see next year at the fair.
I got to meet both the Obamas.
Jake and Judd got to ride the sheep and did excellent.
Rabun got to spend a fun night with friends.
And we all had a blast as a family.
We can’t wait until next year’s fair, it will be October 4–14.
Thursday night we had Elle’s First Birthday Party! Family and friends gathered to eat sandwiches and cake & ice cream. There was a movie night complete with popcorn and candy for the older kids.
Elle loved her cupcake and everyone singing to her.
And after a little encouragement from her big sister, she got the hang of digging into the cake.
We were happy to host friends and family for the celebration and hope that everyone had a good time. Rabun certainly enjoyed the opportunity to play with friends.
Today Elle turned one. She woke up happy as always and we spent some time playing before I had to go off to work and Jess got busy seeing the grandparents and making preparations for the party.
Happy Birthday Elle!
