I love my wife, Lisa Bailey. We’ve known about each other since we were young, but we really didn’t notice each other much until Thanksgiving of 2005. Which is a good thing considering we’re 7 years apart in age. We had our first date on February 4, 2006. I took her to Campeche Bay to eat, Borders Books and Games to hang out a bit (that was the last time that happened!), and to see ”Fun With Dick and Jane” at the Cinemark.  I proposed to Lisa on the balcony of our hotel overlooking Walt Disney World and Epcot and we were married around six months later on September 29, 2007 at The Jacksonville Zoo in the Range of the Jaguar.

This blog is a present to my wife for Christmas in 2008 and hopefully will become a Christmas tradition. I want Lisa to look back 50 years from now, and see all the reasons I love her. Not only that, but I also want our future children to learn exactly why daddy can’t live without mommy and loves her so very very much.

I love you Lisa and I couldn’t imagine life without you.

You helped to create the man I am today. The man that is proud of his life and what he’s accomplished. The man that isn’t as scared to stand up for himself.

I  didn’t have to be much of a man before I met you. My responsibilities included going to work and making sure I had enough to eat. It sounds cheesy, but you helped me believe in myself. You helped me realize I should take pride in myself and everything I do. You gave and still give me: a kick in the ass when I need some prodding, love when I need comfort, and encouragement when I achieve something worthwhile.

You console me when I fail and cheer when I succeed. I can be the man I want to be because I have you at my side. Thank you for that.

I love you because you help me be the man I know I can be.

They say a marriage changes your life, but mine changed before that.

My life changed the moment I looked across the table at you at Campeche Bay and heard you say, “I want a tiger, a monkey, and an elephant.” I knew at that moment that that I could love you, but I didn’t know what that meant…not then.

I didn’t know how much loving you would change my life, because until you, I wasn’t really living. It was like having my eyes open to the future. As time went on I started thinking about things more…Planning. Wow…I could live with this woman…I love this woman…I want to marry this woman! I can start a family with this woman! I became excited about life. I became excited about my life with YOU.

I am so happy I have you in my life and we can plan a future together. Life is brighter, happier, and more exciting because of you. You make life worth living.

I love you because you make me excited about life.