Happy 31st Birthday!

Happy 31st Birthday Matt! Most people say things like, "I can hardly believe it's been a year since we fill-in-the blank... My, where does the time go???" Well, I know where the time since your last birthday has gone. It's been right here backing over us like a mack truck!

All I can think as I remember last Halloween is how has it only been one year since you were celebrating your 30th birthday by going to a Halloween bash designed for teenagers while Aunt Pam and I took the kids trick-or-treating in the rain? It seems like at least three years ago since you and I were in the house with a princess throwing a fit about something while Aunt Pam was on the front porch knocking on the door to let us know our dragon had just made himself throw up to avoid wearing his costume. Seriously. Are you sure you're not turning 35?

Since this year has been oh-so-eventful, I thought it would be no problem to come up with 31 memorable moments from the past year!

1. Begin at the beginning. Cool drizzle. Cranky princess. Ticked off dragon. Crazy-busy husband. Pregnant wife. Life-saving aunt dressed as Dorothy. Happy Birthday.

2. Cancer. Aunt Jan's death. "Grave yard day." Sadness.

3. Thanksgiving. An amazing game. An impromptu trip to Bass Pro Shop somewhere on I-20. (Only Santa could have lured us in!) Spontaneity.

4. Our last Christmas in Atlanta. (Though we didn't know it). Pink Pig. Lenox Santa. Snowfall in Atlantic Station. So much fun.

5. An anniversary celebration also known as Hibernation Weekend. (Remember us telling Dr. Robbins we might go see a show! Ha!) The last night without children for a loooong while. Rest.

6. Christmas memories. Excitement over Santa. Comfort of family. Pictures on the front porch. Kids at such fun ages. Joy.

7. New Year's - pregnant again - (when am I not pregnant or nursing for New Years?) Seriously. 2010.

8. SEC Championship Game. Chili. Nesting. The promise of snow. The promise of a baby girl. Excitement.

9. Mama down on a Saturday night. Crying, shaking. A plastic bag. Visions of a baby in a bed. A 3 a.m. call to a neighbor, ambulance ride, 1st hospitalization of 2010. Feeling like a real grown up. Feeling thankful to have a real partner. Stress.

10. 10 days in the bed. Patti-Grams to the rescue. You letting me watch tv going to sleep since you knew I wouldn't sleep much anyway. Conan vs. Jay. Team CoCo! Waiting.

11. A Sunday night. A feeling we'd meet her soon. A Monday morning call home from the office. A relatively uneventful trip to the hospital (did you really ask me what contractions felt like on that ride?). Our second visit to the hospital in 2010. An easy-breezy delivery followed by an attempted MRI. An absolutely perfect baby. New life.

12. A blissful couple of weeks with a precious new bundle. A

doting big brother. An excited big sister. An amazing extended family. A couple that loves each other and three healthy children. Gratitude.

13. A two week old baby. Preparations for a second birthday. A call (in the middle of Target) that changed everything. Uncertainty.

14. A delayed party. A dreaded diagnosis. (Both came on the same Friday afternoon). Cancer again. This time closer to home. A choice to celebrate life. Worry that gives way to faith.

15. Doctors appointments. Around-the-clock feedings. Blur. Adjustment. Re-entry into school, church, life. Trying to get our footing. Six-week checkup. Passing out. Nursing in an ambulance. The third hospital stay of 2010. (We're only in February). How you managed those couple of hours before Aunt Pam came to the rescue again I'm sure I don't want to know. It's a secret between you, God, and Justin Owens. I can laugh about it now, but only tears then. Stress.

16. Adjusting to life with three. Patti-Grams. Aunt Pam. Ashley. Hope. The cavalry arrived. Help.

17. Our first Easter apart. Your total understanding and encouragement for me to be with Dad. Reminders of what Christ came to bring us. Hope.

18. Trying to make cancer fun. An unexpected phone call. A spring full of questions. Praying and pondering. Opportunities and possibilities. Waiting and wondering. Trust.

19. One more last

time. Dance. School. Play. Atlantic Station. Botanical Gardens. Crossroads. Six Flags for the first time. News of a flood. Too much stuff to pack. Too little time. Too much rain. Overwhelm.

20. Mother's Day, Dad's birthday, Lillie's dedication, quick trips for you, finishing well and beginning anew. Celebration.

21. You there. Us here. Atlanta, Myrtle Beach, Franklin, Birmingham, Orange Beach. A trial, followed by a fall. Lack of routine, lack of time together, lack of sanity. Craziness.

22. Life in the condo - "the condo makes me throw up," kid in the hall, nobody sleeps, everybody cries, and no one knows where their shoes are.

Adjustment.

23. A beach trip and blue angels. A fun 4th of July. A 6th birthday. First

food for Lillie Pie. Sweet CeCe's on two-punch Tuesday. Summer fun.

24. Getting to really know our baby girl. Smiles. Giggles. Beauty. Love.

25. New parks. New playgrounds. New schools. New routines. New normal. Settling in.

26. Tapping telephone poles and taking trips to New York. Attempting order in the condo, attempting order in your office. Spending 24 hours in Atlanta and speaking on the main stage. Whirlwind.

27. First Day in the First Grade. All aboard the Preschool Train. Sitting up. Cutting teeth. Growth.

28. Sol without kids. The

Chihuly Night that wasn't. The Chihuly Night that was. Pei-Wei and Fox's regardless. Free babysitters that actually love our kids. Picnicking on a hillside without anyone asking us for anything. Dates.

29. Football games. Roll Tide Roll. Pumpkin patches and petting zoos. Corn mazes and hayrides. Fall. Franklin. Family.

30. Pumpkin crunch and fire pits. You spending hours making sure our kids have

amazing jack-o-lanterns (even though I won the contest as always). Laughing and listening to our favorite Halloween tunes.

Traditions.

31. Thinking about the adventure we've shared. Looking forward to another year with you. Realizing that there is no one else I want to do this with. Thankful for all the time we've had and hopeful that there is an abundance to share. Back where we started. Happy Birthday.

Matt, we've lived enough life this year for at least three years. And as crazy as it's been, I am so thankful that I got to do life with you. So this Halloween, when we take the dreaded front-door pictures, Fancy Nancy may be melting down, Will, more than likely, won't put a toe into his Thomas costume, and our pink poodle may fall asleep before the first house, but either way I will be standing next to you. And that is exactly where I want to be.

Happy 31st birthday! I love you.