I’ve been sitting here at the hotel computer for a while now, trying to think up a way to start a Happy 30th Birthday post for Tim. But I can’t seem to find the right words to write for the man who is everything I ever dreamed of. It seems that images, and not words, are the only thing my mind can think up right now.

I remember the first time I met Tim, the first time we held hands, and the first time we kissed. I remember the afternoon we drank three bottles of wine and came up with our kids’ names. I remember the first time we ate at our favorite restaurant, Effie’s, and the dozens of times we returned there. I remember eating cheese steaks and ketchup in the park and making snow angels at midnight. I remember buying our first stuffed animal together and the subsequent twelve after that. I remember buying our cookbook and learning how to cook together. And I remember eating Dairy Queen blizards, asking him to travel the world with me, and him saying yes.

We’ve been traveling for nearly 4 months now and I can count the number of disagreements we’ve had on one hand. But I can not begin to count the number of times Tim has made me smile, has made me feel loved, has made me laugh, and has shown me the beauty of the world through his eyes. I can not count the number of times I’ve watched him meet new people and made them feel comfortable and listened to. I can not count the number of times he has impressed me and made me proud. And I can not count the number of times that I have fallen in love with him again and again and again.

This boy who has captured my heart and my imagination means the world to me, more than anything I could ever write. He has so much talent and wisdom, strength and patience, love and humor. This boy, the love of my life, is a beautiful person, a loving partner, and a giving soul, and I wish for nothing but for all his dreams to come true.

Happy 30th Birthday, my sweet Timothy. I love you so very much and I can not wait to see what this year brings you. I can not wait for the many, many more birthdays we will have together. And I can not wait to see the rest of the world and the rest of our life together while holding your hand.