Mat turns 37 today. Wait.....no he says it is 35. He is holding steady at 35 from now on. Whatever makes him happy.
On his 37th but his pretend 35th birthday, I think back to all the years we have spent together. I was dating him when he turned 17. And we spent his 27th birthday as a married couple getting ready to start a family. And now, at 37 (but pretending to be 35) we have 3 beautiful children, and awesome home in a great neighborhood, and are still very much enjoying life.
20 years of birthdays. More birthdays together than apart. Still completely amazes me.
I am the luckiest girl in the world. I married an amazing man with a truly good heart. He is the sweetest, most honest, best dad you will ever meet. He has a very time consuming job, and he never complains. He really enjoys life. He strives to be happy every single day. He loves his kids and cherishes his time with them daily. He makes time for just he and I - listens and participates in all of our conversations.
I don't know how I got so lucky. I listen to people complain about their husbands after 1,5, 10 years of marriage. "They drive me crazy". "I can't believe he did yada, yada". But me? I just don't. Does he drive me crazy sometimes? Yes. Can I believe somethings "guys in general" do? Not really. But because that is just a small part of him, I just smile when I think of him. Or remember how lucky I am that I have such a great guy. I don't ever complain about him to friends because it is not who he is. It is not the first thing that comes to me when I think about him.
The first thing I think when I think about Mat is love. And honesty. And how he is truly my best friend. I would never be whole without him. I can't imagine not having him beside me for the rest of my life.
Happy Birthday Mat! I love you more every day.
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How I wish I could post just about the love of my life's birthday. But on this day, 8 years ago, this day became something else as well. On Feb. 7th, 2003 - one week before Arlington was born, I got the phone call that my Godbrother, Matt, was killed in a car accident. My Mat took the phone call, and you should have seen how he thought over how he was going to tell his 39 week pregnant wife about someone she cared very deeply about.
It was the worst moment in my life. He was so young. Such a great man. It was not fair. It is still not fair.
Today, like everyday, he is on my mind. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him. These days, I smile when I think of him and all the memories we had growing up. I talk with him and ask him to watch over us.
My Godparents and Godsister and brother are strong people. Stronger than I could ever be. Everyday is hard. Today - is especially hard. No one wants to relive those memories of being told that a love one is gone. But here we are. Feb. 7th. Eight years have past.
We hold strong to the hope that there is life after death. That Matt is somewhere beautiful and peaceful and waiting for us to join him. I believe strongly that he is happy. I believe we will see him again someday.
For all of you who knew him, please let his family know that you are thinking of them today. For all of you who don't, please pray that today brings peace to a hurting heart.
We love you Chris, Mary Louise, Christy, Ryan. We are with you always.
"You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice" - Unknown.
1 comment:
This is beautiful Jennifer in many ways- for our son-in-law Mat whom we love to watch with you and kids and see how much he cares and to our Matt Hornick, who was another son to us and took part of our hearts on that day in Feb. and who, like you, we believe watches over us and is with us always in spirit.
love Mom
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