Oh the love I have felt these last 27 years! Here are my thank yous for the last 27 years - I love you all so much.
Mom and Dad - thank you for your love for me that began before I was even born and now continues to grow into a more beautiful love each passing year. Your unselfish care for me, your love of Christ that you passed on to me, your loving discipline, your provisions that exceed my every expectation - I thank you from the depths of my soul.
Aaron - thank you for your love - love that binds our hearts together. A love that God holds together and cannot be broken. 5 and half years ago you presented me with a ring and asked me if I would let you love me like Christ loved the Church. You have not disappointed - you hold me accountable, you give me gentle encouragement, you hold me with tenderness... Thank you for being my husband.
Chad - You show me brotherly love and care that blows my mind. Thank you for putting up with me in our formative years so that we could be great friends as adults.
Grandpa Alfred and Grandma Nona - Thank you for your legacy - thank you for loving the Lord. You have blessed my life and bring me love that is felt to the bone.
Grandpa and Grandma Cross - you won't get to read this because you beat us to heaven. But I want to express my thanks and gratitude for showing me how to have a strong loving marriage that is based on God's love and showing me how to put God first, others second and yourself last.
Mary and Jerry - I praise the Lord regularly for giving me such wonderful in-laws. Thank you for raising your son to be a man of God - he is my greatest gift. Thank you for loving me always.
Connie - thank you for your sweet heart, kindness and love. We met at such a fun time in life - figuring out who we were. We got to make mistakes, grow in truth and love each other through it. You are my sister in Christ - a sweet gift as we travel this life.
Amanda - My dear cheek to cheek friend. Thank you for the laughter, love, and joy through the years. Through the good, the bad, and the ugly - you are always there for me. Thank you for your friendship!
Josh, Lisa, Ashton and Addyson - thank you for bringing so much happiness to my life. Lisa - thank you for your friendship - I love that we can chat about anything. Josh - thank you for serving our country and being a rock in our family. Ashton and Addyson - I love every minute I get to play with you - I miss you so much and can't wait to be in Loveland to watch you grow up.
Jeremy, Kelly, Caleb, Hannah and Camry - thank you for the love and joy to bring to my life. Kelly - thank you for being tender and kind - I appreciate it so much. Jeremy - thank you for your care and love. Caleb, Hannah and Camry - I love you so much and praise God I get to be your aunt! Thank you for bringing joy to my life.
Christie - my dear friend and sister in-law, thank you for your love and sweetness to me. Thank you for taking care of my brother and making him a better man. Miss you.
Kaitlin - I wish I had the words to express how thankful I am to be called your friend. You are an amazing woman, I have learned so much from you and am blessed to walk beside you in this life.
Callie - my mentor and friend. Thank you for your love, guidance, words of wisdom and faith. You are a gift from God.
Elyssa - your friendship is so special to me - thank your for sharing this road with me! Separated by only hours and a few hundred miles at birth - our friendship was meant to be. God bless 27!
Stephen - my childhood buddy - thank you for the fun times - we have so many! I'm so blessed that our friendship grew even after we weren't children anymore. Thank you for your faith, adventurous spirit and love!
Julie Butler - your heart is so beautiful, you glow Jesus! Thank you for sharing your love and friendship with me. We may never get to camp illegally in NZ again or share a room in a cold flat - but I look forward to more fun memories!
Todd, Wes and Jeff - thank you for your brotherly love and support for my husband. Thank you for welcoming me into the adventures with open arms.
Angie - thank you for showing me ruthless trust. You are a beautiful woman, amazing mother and sweet friend.
All my other amazing family and friends - I could be here all day - you have all blessed my life with love, kindness, fun and joy! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I see God's goodness in the gift he's given me in you!
3 comments:
Tara, happy happy birthday my wonderful friend. I am blessed so much by your friendship as well and I thank God for giving me such a friend for sharing this journey. Thank you so much for your encouragement, your listening ear, and for sharing so many fun and silly times! I hope this year is filled with God's blessings and growing closer to him. Happy Birthday!
Tara - You are a BLESSING. I pray you know it today. You have such a way with words and a way to capture what matters most in life - Jesus, family, friends. Thank you for sharing your heart with so many of us. And thank you also for your friendship. Its fun to think back at the ways that God has put us in eachother's paths over our lives. :)
And of course the depth of our journey was in New Zealand - but I'm not even sure I've shared just how important your friendship was while I was there. You literally held me together through providing sanity, peace, good counsel, prayer, and just walking together in Jesus learning from our silly mistakes and wonderings. (And I can't wonder with many people the way I wonder with you by the way - we both speak Nicole Nordman language. . . its nice).
I remember our musings on a bus on the way to Christ Church about how long it would take Aaron to figure out that you were supposed to be married. And I remember him coming to visit and finally seeing you after he left. You ran to me in the dark in the middle of a coldasak somewhere in the little town of Lincoln and we cried on the pavement in complete joy that we couldn't believe that not only had he figured it out - but had jumped ahead of what you had even planned!!! Oh the joy. (And how totally freaked out the Kiwis were at the size of your ring :). You were one of the only friends that I called on the day that James proposed to me - I knew that you knew what I was going through and that you wouldn't ever tell me anything other than what you truly believed to be true Godly counsel.(And that's exactly what it was; true Godly counsel). Our conversation that day was as solid and helpful as I had hoped it to be. And here I am, Mrs Butler three and a half years later. Thank you for all the ways that you continue to touch and bless each and every one of us. You are one special stubborn beautiful gal. I love you. Thanks for your love and true friendship.
Jules
Happy birthday Tara! I hope it was so special. With all those amazing people in your life, how could it not have been?! You surely are so blessed. And I'm even more sure that you are a blessing to all who know you too! Here's to another happy year!
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