June 19, 2011, Nashville, Tennessee~

Dearest Wayne~

Fifteen years ago, you came into my life.  Ten years ago yesterday, we were married.  Can you believe we have been together for that long?  

I feel incredibly blessed to call you "husband" and "father".  You are the embodiment of what a godly father/man should be.  You watch over your children like a dog defending its bone: you would do anything for them to keep them safe and happy.  You shower me with love and encouragement; you make me proud to be a woman!

You have taught me more about courage than most people.  You have overcome so much in your life: physical disability or illness.  Frequent hospital stays (though lately, those days are becoming fewer, which has been a huge anaswer to prayer!).  Surgeires (too numerous to count).  The discovery of having a sister.  Nearly losing your niece or other family members on more than one occasion.  Nearly losing our home in the devastating floods of last year.  Yet through it all, you remain hopeful and trusting God through all of life's storms.

You are a shining beacon of hope.  You give me strength whenever I need it the most, and the children absoutely adore you.  

Darling, I hope you enjoyed the dinner at Cracker Barrel.  The way you polished those barbequed ribs off makes me smile: you were clearly enjoying yourself emmensely.  The children also enjoyed their kid's meals and it felt good to get out of the house as a family and not having to worry about things.

The sermon at church this morning was so good.  Pastor Bilkey really preached a powerful sermon challenging all the fathers in attendance to "step up to the plate" and be the fathers that God created you to be.  Knowing you, you will do just fine; you have so far, even in light of all the struggles you've faced.

I pray that God continues to use you in a mighty way.  You are an inspiration not only to those who know you best, but to everyone you cme into contact with.  You work many hours at the hospital, tending to patients, caring for them as they undergo surgery, and you don't leave their side until you make all is well.  That is truly a dedicated doctor!  People who see you on the golf course or on your errands will never forget you because in your vocabulary, there is no such word as the word "can't".  You prove to people that you CAN do anything you set your mind to!

Well, honey, I am going to entertain the children while you sit back and enjoy the baseball game on television.  Hopefully the weather won't get too bad to where we have to go to our saferoom.  Just pray it doesn't get nasty.  We've had a lot of that lately; I'm more than ready for the sun to come back out!  Take care and know that I love you with every fiber of my being!  Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy and Husband on the planet!

~Sarah.  :)