Today is my husband's birthday. He woke up at 5 a.m. this morning and took Watson out for a 7-mile run in 30-degree weather. He's kind of amazing like that. There aren't many people I know who are disciplined enough to wake up at 5 a.m., much less run seven miles, in freezing weather. Scratch that, he's the only one I know who is crazy disciplined enough to do stuff like that. And it doesn't end there. He carries this kind of focused and deliberate mentality in all aspects of his life: in his faith, his family, his health, his work, in everything. So, I hope you can empathize with my predicament; being the wife of someone so amazing certainly has its challenges. As in, how the heck can anyone be expected to keep up?
I think every girl uses her father as a measuring rod for her future husband. My father is the most intelligent, generous, and kindest man I know. Despite being remarkably successful, he is unbelievably humble. He is an unassuming man who says little, yet quietly demands respect. This would normally be bad news for most men, but Adam is clearly not most men.
Adam is the kind of man who, after his morning run, comes home to cook breakfast for his family before heading off to work. He is the kind of man who, despite being so big and strong, manages to fit unabashedly around our daughter's little finger. He is the kind of man who is so thoughtful and prepared that he gives me everything I need before I can even ask for it: a sweater nearby because he knows I am always cold in restaurants and movie theaters; a strong and steady arm to hold onto because I tend to wear the most ridiculous heels; a fully-stocked kitchen because I get 'inspired' and have to live out my foodie fantasies at a moment's notice. He is the kind of man who will (and has actually honed the necessary skills to) literally protect his family with his life. The kind of man who some would say lives a little off-center by having quite an impressive and comprehensive 'TEOTWAWKI box' in the event when everything falls apart and we are faced with earthquakes, floods, fires, nuclear threats, terrorist attacks, and maybe even a zombie apocalypse (thrown in for good measure). But Adam is more than just the guy who carries all the heavy stuff and makes sure that his wife and daughter are well cared for.
He is the man God chose for me. More importantly, he is the man who brought God back into my life. And together, we can't help but marvel at how perfectly and eloquently God has worked His design and His will in our marriage; our faith is renewed exponentially. Not only has Adam helped me realize a more personal relationship with God, he leads our family with a strong and honest heart and a loving, steadfast hand. Adam is, among so many wonderful things, incredibly charismatic, wise, handsome, funny, entertaining, sincere, intense, devoted, dependable, generous, and too much to describe in one sitting. He is the best husband I could ever ask for and an even better father. He jumps with both feet in, in everything he does.
Photo by Anna Wamsted
Honestly, I don't know where he gets the energy. I spend my days just trying to keep up. I watch him strive, stumble, and sometimes succeed in his efforts to be the kind of Great Man my father is. He's not quite there yet, but it's fully apparent that one day he will be. And if Evie's future husband is anything like her father, it's the best I can ever ask for.
]]>
