In honor of you, darling.

He stole my heart when I was just 12 years old. He called and sang "I Just Called aTo Say I Love You" to me. On a Tuesday, for no special reason. He is strong, sincere and has the biggest heart.  He loves me with every fiber of his being, even though I may not deserve it sometimes.  He keeps me in line when I get too far out there, and when I do get too far out of line, he loves me still, with passion, and grace.

I've loved him for a thousand years, and I'll love him for a thousand more.

Happy Birthday Riley.

Today is the day God started preparing you for me, and me for you, 26 years ago.
26 years ago, the world changed forever. You were brought on this earth for a reason, a purpose. Every day I see you fulfilling that purpose, and I feel so proud to be apart of your life. To be called yours.

Your life is worth celebration every day. But on this special day, exactly 26 years from the day you were born, deserves a special kind of recognition.

You have a kind of patience that I applaud. I never knew one person could possess the immense amount of endurance and composure that you do in trying situations, when I push every one of your buttons, and then push one more, you keep yourself in that serenity.
You let me be who I am, you support me, you stand beside me as I face this world and go after all of the many dreams and passions that I have. You are truly my rock, Riley. You make me feel stable, protected and most of all, you make me feel special, and beautiful.

You are a special snowflake, love. Made especially for me. God knew he was going to have to prepare a special-strong kind of man to be able to handle me and all of my quirks. And you're certainly the man for the job :)

You have an amazing personality, you're funny, you're charming, and you're genuine. You always know exactly what to say in any given situation.

The first time I heard this song, I cried. It immediately made me think of you, my heart became warm and fuzzy especially at the part where it says, "you're a standing ovation after years of waiting for a chance to finally shine"

You are my standing ovation, Riley.

I pinch myself sometimes to make sure I'm not in a dream, that's how it seems
I close my eyes and breathe in the sweetest moments
I've ever known, it feels like home
And here I am, I wanna be your everything

There you are turning winter into spring
And everyone that sees you always wants to know you
And everyone that knows you always has a smile

You're a standing ovation after years of waiting
For a chance to fall and shine

Everyone calls you amazing yeah, I just call you mine

I fall apart and just a word from you somehow seems to fix
Whatever's wrong, oh, you reach into the weakest moments
And remind me that I'm strong, you've gotta know
I'd be a fool not to see or even worse
To forget that you're more than I deserved

'Cause everyone that sees you always wants to know you
And everyone that knows you always has a smile

You're a standing ovation after years of waiting
For a chance to fall and shine

Everyone calls you amazing, I just call you mine
Nothing makes sense when you're not here
As it my whole world disappears
Without you what's the point of anything?

'Cause everyone that sees you always wants to know you
And everyone that knows you always has a smile
You're the dream that I've been chasing after years of waiting
For a chance to fall and shine
Everyone calls you amazing,

I just call you mine everyone calls you amazing, yeah, yeah, I just call you mine

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d7a45794d546b334e7a513d0d0a&blogview=true

So on this day, smile, be you, be happy and know that you are greatly loved. I'm so happy I get the honor of spending your birthday with you.

Here's to another 26 amazing years.

I Love You.